Undersheriff Moir is known as a police executive who is calm in chaos, resilient, and enthusiastic about the profession. A California native, Sylvia has over three decades of local police practice; with over one decade as a Chief of Police in California and Arizona. She was appointed as the Undersheriff of Marin County Sheriff’s Department in September 2022; responsible for leading and managing the day-to-day operations and administration of the organization. She was appointed as the interim Chief of Police in Napa CA in 2021, the Chief of Police in Tempe Arizona 2016-2020 leading the department through multiple crises and advancements, and the Chief of El Cerrito California Police Department from 2010-2016.
Chief Moir spent most of her early career with the Sacramento Police Department where she served in every division of the department. In Sacramento, she was the Incident Commander on hundreds of planned and spontaneous events, she was deployed to active incidents as an All-Hazards Incident Management Team leader, a trainer in several policing subjects, and a member of the Sacramento Police Honor Guard. Notably, she completed rigorous and humbling training with the US Army Old Guard at Fort Myer, VA. and Arlington National Cemetery.
In 2021 Sylvia was appointed by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to the FirstNet Authority Board and concluded her term in late 2024. She served on the Executive Board of the Arizona and California Associations of Chiefs of Police and is a past President of the Police Executive Research Forum. She is the co-coordinator for the California Police Executive Development Course, a member of New York University Policing Project Advisory Board, and an advisor for the University of Virginia's Center for Public Safety and Justice.
Chief Moir is in demand as an influencer and guide for executives. In 2019, she delivered a compelling TEDX Talk, where she spoke on the complexity of modern-day policing and the importance of practicing mindfulness and developing resilience for enduring service. She co-hosts a podcast called the Hollow Bunny Leadership podcast with her friend and colleague, retired police chief Kristen Ziman. Their extensive experiences, academic understanding, and humorous approach engage listeners from a variety of professions.
Chief Moir holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento, a Master of Arts in Organizational Management, and a Master of Science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School - Center for Homeland Defense and Security where she was awarded the Butch Straub Award for Leadership and Intellectual Courage. She enjoys reading, hiking, a fidgety meditation practice, and now considers herself a retired runner; having run several marathons including the Marine Corps, New York, Chicago, and California International Marathons.