Governor announces 5 CDCR appointments

December 15, 2023

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the following appointments to CDCR leadership roles on Dec. 14:

Amy Casias has been appointed Director of the Division of Rehabilitative Programs at CDCR, where she has been Deputy Director of Program Support since 2021. She has served in several positions since 2014, including Associate Director of the Accounting Services Branch, Accounting Administrator III and Accounting Administrator II. Casias was owner of Amy Casias Consulting from 2012 to 2014. She was an Accounting Administrator for the California Fair Services Authority from 2011 to 2013. Casias held several positions at the California Exposition and State Fair from 1990 to 2011, including Assistant General Manager of Administration. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Sacramento State University. This position requires Senate confirmation.

Sydney Tanimoto has been appointed Deputy Director of Program Operations in the Division of Rehabilitative Programs at CDCR. She has been Chief of the Office of Legislative Affairs since 2021. Tanimoto was a Principal Program Budget Analyst III at the California Department of Finance from 2019 to 2021 and a Finance Budget Analyst there from 2016 to 2019. She was a Staff Services Analyst at the California Department of Social Services from 2015 to 2016. Tanimoto was a Mental Health Services Act Graduate Intern for the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Behavioral Health from 2014 to 2015. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Political Science from California State University, Long Beach. She also earned a Master of Public Policy degree in Social Policy from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This position does not require Senate confirmation.

James Hill has been appointed Warden of Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, where he has been Acting Warden since 2022. Hill served as Warden of the California Institution for Men from 2021 to 2022. He held several positions at Centinela State Prison from 2002 to 2021, including Chief Deputy Warden, Correctional Administrator, Correctional Captain, Correctional Lieutenant, Correctional Sergeant and Correctional Officer. Hill was a Correctional Administrator at Calipatria State Prison in 2018. He was a Correctional Captain at the California Institution for Women from 2014 to 2016. Hill was Vice President of Smallwood Enterprises from 2012 to 2014. He was a Correctional Officer at Salinas Valley State Prison from 2000 to 2002. Hill served in the U.S. Navy from 1992 to 1996. This position does not require Senate confirmation.

Kevin Hixon has been appointed Warden of North Kern State Prison, where he has been Acting Warden since 2022 and has served in several positions since 2016, including Chief Deputy Administrator, Acting Chief Deputy Administrator and Correctional Administrator. Hixon was a Captain at Kern Valley State Prison from 2013 to 2016. He was a Correctional Lieutenant at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison from 2008 to 2013. He was also a Correctional Sergeant there from 2005 to 2008. Hixon was a Correctional Officer at Deuel Vocational Institution from 2000 to 2002 and at California State Prison, Corcoran, from 2002 to 2005. This position does not require Senate confirmation.

Ryan Youtsey has been appointed Chief Deputy of Offender Investigations and Screening Division, Board of Parole Hearings at CDCR, where he has been a Senior Investigator since 2023. Youtsey held several positions at the CDCR Division of Adult Parole Operations from 2007 to 2023, including Parole Administrator, Parole Agent III, Parole Agent II and Parole Agent I. He held several positions at CDCR Division of Adult Institutions from 2013 to 2015, including Parole Agent II Specialist, Correctional Counselor I and Correctional Officer. Youtsey was a Youth Correctional Counselor at the CDCR Division of Juvenile Justice from 2005 to 2007. He is a member of the Chicano Correctional Workers Association. Youtsey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Sacramento State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation.