Co-Founder and Executive Director, Public Affairs & Agency Partnerships

Susan Kang brings four decades of political experience and more than two decades of executive leadership, legal, and public service expertise to Hydro-Geologic Solutions, Inc. As the former Chief of Staff at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), Susan oversaw legal strategy, legislative advocacy, media relations, public policy, and complex multi-agency initiatives for high-profile cases and programs. She successfully advocated for a 300-percent increase in environmental protection funding, expanding the OCDA’s capacity for enforcement, policy advancement, and community engagement.

During her tenure, Susan played a pivotal leadership role in coordinating public engagement for one of California’s most consequential environmental enforcement efforts—the Orange County District Attorney’s MTBE litigation against major petroleum companies including ARCO and BP for contamination of the Orange County groundwater basin. This groundbreaking litigation, conducted in parallel with the Orange County Water District’s (OCWD) case, advanced critical groundwater protections and helped shape recharge and remediation programs statewide. Working alongside District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, Susan helped navigate the legal, regulatory, and public dimensions of complex groundwater contamination cases—experience that directly complements Hydro-Geologic Solutions’ mission to develop sustainable and transparent groundwater management strategies for agencies and municipalities.

At Hydro-Geologic Solutions, Susan leads agency partnerships, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that groundwater programs are supported by clear communication, trust-based relationships, and broad community understanding. Her background in strategic communications, legislative reform, and crisis management enables the firm to help clients translate complex scientific and technical findings into clear, credible information for decision-makers, boards, and the public—bridging the gap between engineering and policy.

Before her environmental and public affairs leadership, Susan served as a Deputy City Attorney for Anaheim, where she conducted more than forty jury trials, and later advanced through the ranks of the OCDA to become Public Affairs Counsel and Chief of Staff. She created and co-supervised the OCDA’s nationally recognized Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, which redefined multi-agency collaboration models now widely used in public-sector investigations.

Recognized as one of California’s most experienced professionals in media relations, Susan has launched multiple public information platforms, issued more than 8,000 press releases, led hundreds of press conferences, and coordinated media coverage that reached millions across television, radio, print, and digital outlets. Over four decades, she has also contributed to numerous political campaigns and legislative reform efforts across all levels of government, including helping to enact 13 state constitutional amendments.

A graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and the University of Southern California (B.A. in Journalism and Political Science, cum laude), Susan has been honored by organizations including Open Gate International (co-founded by Albert and Deidre Pujols) and the Korean Prosecutors Association for her leadership and public service. She continues to advise nonprofits and public agencies on community education, public safety, and strategic outreach.

Susan is a member of the State Bar of California, holds two insurance licenses, and possesses advanced certifications from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (Level Three with Merit and Distinction) and the Court of Master Sommeliers (Level One).

At Hydro-Geologic Solutions, Susan ensures that the firm’s technical excellence is matched by institutional collaboration, transparency, and public trust—the cornerstones of successful groundwater management and recharge programs in California.