FRANCISCO J. CASTILLO
Senior Director of Public Affairs

Francisco Castillo assumed the role of senior director, public affairs in Northern California effective January 2016. In this capacity, he is responsible for managing Union Pacific’s (UPRR) state legislative strategy and community relations activities. Castillo joined UPRR in January 2015 as director of corporate relations and media, where he developed, planned and implemented external communications programs that advanced the company’s business goals and
enhanced its relationship with media.

Prior to joining UPRR, he served on the national leadership team of a non-profit education organization working to support great teachers and empower parents. From 2004-2011, he served in senior roles for then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, First Lady Maria Shriver, and again for Newsom in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

More than a decade ago, he began his career helping young people prepare for successful careers. He served as a job developer at the non-profit Mission Language & Vocational School in San Francisco, which offered job training, career guidance, and job placement services to hundreds of low-income, non-English speakers every year. He continued as a college and career counselor at LULAC National Education Services.

Castillo is an active community member and volunteers his time serving on several boards in the Sacramento Region including the California Museum, Sacramento Covered and Yolo Country Children’s Alliance. He represents Union Pacific Railroad on various business & trade association boards including the Bay Area Council, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce, among others.

Castillo is a 2018 Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and has been recognized as one of the Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Most recently, Sacramento Magazine named him one of Sacramento 100 notable business leaders in 2021. Castillo earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Francisco State University.