Yogananda Pittman

Yogananda D. Pittman (born 1980) is an American police officer who is the University of California, Berkeley chief of police. She was formerly the assistant chief and acting chief of the United States Capitol Police (USCP), serving in those posts during and after the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

She served as acting chief of the USCP from January 8 to July 23, 2021, following the resignation of Steven Sund. Her term as acting chief ended at the time of the appointment of J. Thomas Manger.

Education Pittman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Morgan State University in 1999. She later earned a Master of Public Administration from Marist College and is studying towards a Doctor of Public Administration at West Chester University. During her tenure, Pittman was assigned to the United States Senate Division and served as assistant chief of police for protective and intelligence operations. In 2020, Pittman received the Women in Federal Law Enforcement's Outstanding Advocate for Women award. According to findings in a bipartisan Senate investigation, a series of omissions and miscommunications kept that information from reaching front-line officers. On February 15, 2021, the U.S. Capitol Police Labor Committee, the union representing Capitol Police officers, voted 92% against Pittman in a vote of no confidence in her leadership.

On December 5, 2022, the University of California, Berkeley, announced that Pittman had assumed the role of chief of the Berkeley department of the UCPD, with her leadership beginning February 1, 2023.