Rod Diridon, Sr.
| Rod Diridon Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 8, 1939 Yreka, California |
| Residence | Santa Clara, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | San Jose State University |
| Occupation | Retired elected official, non-profit leader |
| Known for | Chair, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Chair, California High-Speed Rail Authority, San Jose Diridon Train Station |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Gloria C. Duffy |
Rod Diridon Sr. (born February 8, 1939) is an American politician known for his leadership in the mass transportation field. He served as Chair of the California High Speed Rail Authority, from 2001 to 2003. He currently chairs the advisory board of the United States High Speed Rail Association, and chairs the National Heritage Area Project for Santa Clara County. The New York Times calls Diridon "a tireless advocate of public transport for the Bay Area."
Diridon has also been active in Silicon Valley in leadership on environmental issues, the arts and culture, higher education, community organizations, and philanthropy.
An Italian-American, Rod Diridon Sr. was born on February 8, 1939 in Yreka, California, the son of a railroad brakeman and a piano teacher. He grew up in the small town of Dunsmuir, at the foot of Mt. Shasta in Siskiyou Country, California. Diridon worked his way through college as a railroad brakeman and fireman. He graduated from San Jose State University in 1961 with a BS in Accounting and Finance, continuing to earn a Master of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in statistics in 1963. Diridon then attended US Naval Officer's Candidate School, and served on active duty in the US Navy from 1963 - 1967. Diridon served two combat tours on destroyers in Vietnam, as an anti-submarine warfare officer and a weapons officer. His collateral duties included serving as ship's chaplain, cryptographer, auditor, legal officer and communications officer. He completed his service with the rank of Lieutenant jr. grade.
After returning from Vietnam, Diridon became a management systems analyst at Lockheed Missile and Space Corporation, in Sunnyvale, California. He founded the Decision Research Institute in 1969, which did statistical research, needs assessments and organizational consulting for public agencies and candidates for public office.
Chairing his neighborhood homeowners' association in Saratoga, California, Diridon successfully advocated for retention of a neighborhood park, mobilizing the support of seventeen other homeowners' associations in the city. He was then approached by local leaders and encouraged to run for the Saratoga City Council.
Diridon was first elected as the youngest-ever member of the Saratoga City Council in 1973. He was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1974, representing the fourth supervisorial district. He served five terms as a member of the Board from 1975 until 1995, and served six times as its chair. During his service on the county board of supervisors, Diridon chaired several Bay Area regional government agencies, including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).
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