Stayce D. Harris
About Stayce D. Harris
Stayce D. Harris (born 1959) is an Independent Board Member of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc. (MUC) since 2021. She is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General who served as Inspector General (2017–2019), Assistant Vice Chief of Staff (2016–2017), and Commander, 22nd Air Force (2014–2016), and was a pilot at United Airlines (1990–2020). She oversees 66 BlackRock‑advised registered investment companies consisting of 101 portfolios, and her recent public company directorships include The Boeing Company and KULR Technology Group, Inc. .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Air Force | Inspector General (Lt. Gen.) | 2017–2019 | Oversight of USAF readiness and compliance |
| United States Air Force | Assistant Vice Chief of Staff; Director, Air Staff (Lt. Gen.) | 2016–2017 | Senior leadership of USAF staff operations |
| United States Air Force Reserve Command | Commander, 22nd Air Force (Maj. Gen.) | 2014–2016 | Command of AFRC operational units |
| United Airlines | Pilot | 1990–2020 | Commercial aviation operations |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Boeing Company | Director | Not disclosed | Public company directorship (airplane manufacturer) |
| KULR Technology Group, Inc. | Director | 2021 | Public company directorship |
Board Governance
- Independence and tenure: Harris is classified as an Independent Board Member; she has served on the MUC board since 2021. The MUC/BFZ board consists of 10 individuals, 8 of whom are independent .
- Board leadership: R. Glenn Hubbard (Independent) is Chair of the Board since 2022; W. Carl Kester (Independent) is Vice Chair since 2022 .
- Preferred shareholder governance: VRDP preferred holders have voting rights equal to common and, voting as a separate class, may elect two board members; certain actions require a 1940 Act majority of VRDP holders .
- Shareholder engagement and accountability: The board provides direct communication channels to the Secretary, the Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Audit Committee; complaints can be submitted anonymously to the Audit Chair .
- Activism context: Standstill agreements with Karpus (effective until 2027) and Saba Capital (effective until 2027) commit those holders to customary standstill covenants and to vote with board recommendations, reducing proxy contest risk in the near term .
Committee assignment details for individual directors are not disclosed in this proxy (special meeting Proxy Statement; see Table of Contents—no committee composition section) .
Fixed Compensation
Not disclosed in this Proxy Statement (special meeting materials do not include director compensation schedules) .
Performance Compensation
Not disclosed in this Proxy Statement (no equity or performance award details for directors) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Director | Other Public Boards (last 5 years) | Potential Interlocks/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stayce D. Harris | The Boeing Company; KULR Technology Group, Inc. (2021) | Fund invests in California municipal bonds; no related‑party transactions disclosed in this proxy . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Senior military command experience and enterprise inspection/oversight (Inspector General; Assistant Vice Chief of Staff) .
- Commercial aviation background (United Airlines pilot) .
- Public company board experience (Boeing; KULR) and broad fund governance across 66 RICs/101 portfolios, supporting oversight of leverage, risk, and compliance for closed‑end funds .
Equity Ownership
| Name | Aggregate Dollar Range of Common Shares in MUC | Aggregate Dollar Range of Common Shares in BFZ | Aggregate Dollar Range in Supervised Funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayce D. Harris | $1–$10,000 | $1–$10,000 | $10,001–$50,000 |
| Board & officers (group) | Less than 1% of outstanding shares of each Fund | Less than 1% of outstanding shares of each Fund | — |
VRDP preferred shares are privately placed with institutional holders; directors did not report holdings of VRDP in this proxy .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with high‑level oversight credentials and public board experience; board majority independence (8/10); clear shareholder communication channels; preferred holder voting safeguards; board‑endorsed reorganization supported unanimously by independent members .
- Alignment: Harris holds a modest dollar range of MUC common shares ($1–$10,000); the board and officers as a group own <1% of shares across funds, indicating limited direct equity alignment but consistent with closed‑end fund director norms where pay is typically cash retainer‑based (not disclosed here) .
- Red flags/risks:
- Limited disclosure in this special proxy on committee assignments, meeting attendance, and director compensation mix—investors should consult the latest annual DEF 14A for full board effectiveness and pay‑for‑performance analysis .
- Activist presence managed via standstill agreements (Karpus, Saba) through 2027, reducing near‑term contest risk but potentially suppressing dissent; monitor for any renewal/termination changes and fund performance relative to governance commitments .
- Leverage and preferred structures elevate governance demands; VRDP holders’ seniority and voting rights can constrain board actions—reinforces need for strong Audit and Risk committee oversight (membership not disclosed here) .