Governor Gavin Newsom announced five appointments to the following CDCR leadership posts on Dec. 13:
Jones appointed to DAI Director
Gena Jones has been appointed Director of the Division of Adult Institutions (DAI) at CDCR. Jones has been warden of the California Health Care Facility since 2023, where she was previously acting warden from 2022 to 2023.
She held several positions at California State Prison, Sacramento, from 2014 to 2022, including chief deputy warden, correctional administrator, and facility captain.
Jones held several positions at CDCR from 2009 to 2014, including correctional captain, correctional counselor II supervisor, and correctional counselor. She held several positions at California State Prison, Solano, from 1997 to 2009, including correctional counselor and correctional officer.
Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation.
Phillips appointed Associate Director, High Security Males
Bryan D. Phillips has been appointed Associate Director, High Security Males, at CDCR. Phillips has been warden of the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison since 2024, where he was previously acting warden from 2022 to 2024.
He was chief deputy warden at California Men’s Colony in 2022, where he held several positions since 2008, including associate warden, captain of Adult Institutions, correctional counselor II specialist, correctional lieutenant, and correctional sergeant.
Phillips was associate warden and acting chief deputy warden at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in 2020. He was correctional sergeant at California Correctional Institution from 2004 to 2008. From 1996 through 2004, he was a correctional officer at Avenal State Prison and California Correctional Institution.
This position requires Senate confirmation.
Harden appointed Chief of Office of Correctional Safety
James Harden has been appointed Chief of the Office of Correctional Safety at CDCR, where he has been Special Agent in Charge since 2022. He’s held several positions since 2015, including Senior Special Agent and Special Agent.
Harden held several positions at Kern Valley State Prison from 2005 to 2015, including correctional lieutenant, captain, and correctional sergeant. He was a correctional officer at Wasco State Prison from 2004 to 2005, and at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad from 2002 to 2004. This position does not require Senate confirmation.
Andes appointed San Quentin warden
Chance Andes has been appointed warden of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, where he has served as acting warden since 2024. Andes was associate warden of California State Prison, Sacramento, from 2022 to 2024.
He was a captain at Mule Creek State Prison from 2021 to 2022, Deuel Vocational Institution from 2020 to 2021, and at California Medical Facility from 2019 to 2020. Andes was a correctional lieutenant at CDCR from 2017 to 2019, California Correctional Center from 2014 to 2017, and at Sierra Conservation Center in 2014.
He was a correctional sergeant at California State Prison, Sacramento, from 2010 to 2013. Andes was a correctional sergeant at the Correctional Training Facility at Soledad from 2008 to 2019 and a correctional officer from 2003 to 2008.
This position does not require Senate confirmation.
Pennington appointed warden at California Institution for Men
Travis Pennington has been appointed warden of California Institution for Men, where he has been serving as acting warden since 2023.
He’s held several positions from 2001 to 2023, including correctional administrator, correctional counselor II supervisor, correctional counselor III, correctional counselor, and correctional sergeant.
Pennington was a captain at California Rehabilitation Center at Norco from 2014 to 2019.
He was a correctional officer at Ironwood State Prison from 1996 to 2001.
This position does not require Senate confirmation.
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