Executive Staff

Dr. Tonia Lediju, was appointed by Mayor London Breed and the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners in March 2021 after leading a transition team through a successful restructuring and overhaul of the Authority’s finances, internal controls, and operations. Through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (formerly known as Section 8) and other public housing programs, the Authority serves over 15,000 San Francisco households. In 2019, the Authority was faced with a financial crisis. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) informed the Authority that both its HCV and Public Housing programs were in default, requiring the City and County of San Francisco to start overseeing the Authority’s essential functions. Within three months, Mayor Breed tapped then Chief Audit Executive Lediju, to lead the herculean effort to get the Authority’s finances back on track. Dr. Lediju immediately assembled a Transition Team, which included senior leadership from the Controller’s Office, and leveraged their collective expertise to restructure the Authority. Since October 1, 2019, the day Dr. Lediju began leading the Authority, the organization has successfully transitioned its entire HCV program to a private contractor.

Dr. Lediju's clear vision and ability to create disruptive change while exercising compassion and empathy, allowed for the Authority’s extraordinary metamorphosis, which preserved critical public housing programs for thousands of families. After only one year from her appointment, Dr. Lediju was notified by HUD that the default had been cured. Dr. Lediju has demonstrated her experience in transforming complex organizations and systems with data-driven insight, collaborative relationships, and agile leadership. Dr. Lediju and the Transition Team continue to advise and lead the Authority through its transformation from being a direct service provider to becoming a high-performing contract management and performance-monitoring organization.

Dr. Lediju began her career with the City and County of San Francisco at the Controller’s Office in 2009 when she was appointed City Audit Director by City Controller Ben Rosenfield. She rose quickly to Division Chief and Chief Audit Executive before moving to the Housing Authority. During her tenure, her division earned three Knighton Awards for outstanding work in auditing and was recognized by the Association of Local Government Auditors. Dr. Lediju is the recipient of the David M. Walker Excellence Award in Government Performance and Accountability Award. She earned her doctorate in Organizational Systems and Leadership from Saybrook University.

Mamadou Gning joined the Authority in July 2019 as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In that capacity, Mr. Gning plays an instrumental role in helping the Authority complete its transition to a more modern, transparent, efficient, and trusted community partner. As CFO, he is responsible for the financial well-being of the organization and for an annual operating and capital budgets of over $400 million. He has oversight responsibility for Accounting, Treasury, Financial reporting, Procurement, Asset Management and Financial Planning & Analytics.

Prior to joining the Authority, Mr. Gning was a Principal Auditor at the City Services Auditor Division of the City and County of San Francisco’s Office of the Controller. He has over 15 years of public and private sector audit experience related to financial, regulatory and government audits. He began his audit career with PriceWaterHouseCoopers LLP working on technology clients that included fortune 500 companies.

Mr. Gning holds a Bachelor’s in International Business Law and Master in Business Administration (MBA) with concentration in Finance and Accounting.

Ms. Mason is the Authority’s General Counsel and Chief People Officer overseeing the Legal Department, Policy Initiatives, Government Affairs and Human Resources. She is the liaison to the Authority Board of Commissioners, San Francisco Police Department and various stakeholder partners who provide direct services to Authority clients. Her commitment to the Authority’s success is evidenced through the various positions she has held and continues to hold as the Authority transitions into a new phase in its 80+ year history. As a native of the Bay Area, Ms. Mason is proud of the impact that the Authority has on 15,000+ households in San Francisco and her small part in their housing stability. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Spanish as well as a Juris Doctorate.

Ms. Crawford is the Director of Housing Operations. She started her career at the Authority in 2006. She has worked as a Property Manager and Area Manager in multiple Public Housing sites across the City. Ms. Crawford currently oversees all the Public Housing developments for the Authority's public housing units. She has been instrumental in the transition of Public Housing to the HCV program, working closely with the residents, new property management, and other partners through the course of the transition and beyond.

Ms. Crawford holds a B.S. in Business Management.

Mariano De La Torre started his career with the Authority in September 1991 as a maintenance laborer working in several different public housing developments for the next 25 years that included Robert B. Pitts, Plaza, Hunters Point East and West, Potrero Terrace/ Annex, Hunter's View, Sunnydale, all senior buildings, and Scattered Sites.

He has worked in several different capacities as a General Laborer, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Mechanic Training Instructor and Foreman. In 2015 he transitioned to a Construction Inspector serving in that capacity for 3 years where he also assisted the Housing Choice Voucher Department with inspections until 2018 when he became the Maintenance and Unit Rehabilitation Division (Force Account) Superintendent.

One of Mr. De La Torre’s greatest achievements has been to be able to serve our residents for so many years and in so many different capacities with hard work and the outmost respect for our tenants.