Steven J. Gallegos is the Smokefree Advocacy and Program Manager for the American Lung Association of California.  Living in Los Angeles, California, his work in Tobacco Control for over 11 years led to historic advances and benchmarks in progressive public health policy that created culture change in this country and around the world.  His passion and leadership started with the establishment and enforcement of smoke-free workplaces that included bars and restaurants.  Steven’s successes in public health advocacy include $21.5 Million in appropriations of Master Settlement money for tobacco control and cessation programs, the establishment of a public health department in Los Angles County, and a state proposition for a California stem cell research program.  He has also been a leader in the 88 cities of Los Angeles County for regional smoke-free parks, beaches, outdoor shopping and dining venues, removing tobacco products from floor displays in stores, and eliminating tobacco product advertising on billboards.  His progressive idea’s helped spur a community effort that made the 2000 Democratic National Convention held in Los Angeles, the first national presidential nominating convention free of the influence or presence of the tobacco industry in our nation’s history.   

Mr. Gallegos, a Leadership Fellow of the Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C., presents at regional and state tobacco control conferences and strategic planning meetings for smokefree advocacy campaigns across the United States and presented at the National Conference on Tobacco OR Health on successfully organizing communities and coalitions to pass tobacco control laws.  He’s made significant contributions to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention task forces to support progressive public health and tobacco control policy. Besides all this, Steven is a fine wine connoisseur and collector, he enjoys gourmet dining, and is a classically trained tenor performing and singing in 28 operas during his career.  He has a daughter serving in the U.S. Army and a son studying jazz at North Texas State University.