Governor appoints CDCR leadership positions

August 29, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the following appointments to CDCR leadership positions:

Schultz named warden at CSP-Sacramento

Jason Schultz has been appointed Warden at California State Prison, Sacramento. Schultz has been Acting Warden at California State Prison, Sacramento, since 2024. Schultz held multiple positions at the California State Prison, Solano, from 2007 to 2024, including Acting Warden and Correctional Officer. He held several positions at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton from 2022 to 2024, including Chief Deputy Warden, Associate Warden, and Correctional Administrator. Schultz held multiple positions at the California State Prison, Sacramento, 2008 to 2020, including Correctional Captain, Correctional Lieutenant, and Correctional Sergeant. He was a Correctional Officer at High Desert State Prison from 2005 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation.

Bishop tapped as director of Division of Adult Parole Operations

Bryan Bishop has been appointed Director of Division of Adult Parole Operations at CDCR. Bishop was Deputy Chief at the Office of Correctional Safety at CDCR since 2022, where he has held multiple positions since 2009, including Special Agent-In-Charge, Senior Special Agent, Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Task Force in the Office of Correctional Safety, Lieutenant of Intel Operations and Forensic Lab, and Lieutenant of the Emergency Operations Unit in the Office of Correctional Safety. Bishop has been the Consultant and Lead Instructor at Disaster Preparedness Inc., since 2019. He was a Correctional Lieutenant at Folsom State Prison from 2008 to 2009. Bishop held multiple positions at the California State Prison, Sacramento, since 2002, including Correctional Sergeant and Correctional Officer. Bishop was the Weapons Platoon Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps from 1992 to 1996. This position requires Senate confirmation.

Board of Parole Hearings

Note: These positions require Senate confirmation.

Rosalind Sargent-Burns has been appointed to the Board of Parole Hearings. Burns has been a Senior Deputy Pardon Attorney in the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the United States Department of Justice since 2018, here she has held multiple roles since 2008, including Acting Pardon Attorney, Senior Attorney Advisor, and Attorney Advisor. She was a Staff Attorney at the Illinois Legislative Reference Bureau from 2003 to 2008. Burns earned a Juris Doctor degree from Drake University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Bradley University.

Jack Weiss, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Board of Parole Hearings, where he has served since 2022. Weiss was the Founder of Pacific Intelligence and Cyber from 2019 to 2022 and co-founder of BlueLine Grid from 2013 to 2018. Weiss was Managing Director at Kroll/Altegrity from 2010 to 2013. He was City Councilmember of District 5 at the Los Angeles City Council from 2001 to 2009. Weiss was Assistant US Attorney at the US Attorney’s Office at the Central US Department of Justice from 1994 to 2000. He was an Associate at Irell and Manella from 1993 to 1994. He was a Judicial Law Clerk at the Central District of California in US District Court from 1992 to 1993. Weiss earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University.

William Muniz has been reappointed to the Board of Parole Hearings, where he has served since 2022. Muniz was the Chief Deputy Administrator of the Prison to Employment initiative at CDCR from 2019 to 2020. He held several positions at Salinas Valley State Prison from 1998 to 2019, including Warden, Chief Deputy Warden, Associate Warden, Captain, Correctional Lieutenant, and Correctional Sergeant. Muniz was a Correctional Officer at the Correctional Training Facility at Soledad from 1994 to 1998.

Teal Kozel has been reappointed to the Board of Parole Hearings, where she has served since 2022. Kozel was a Senior Psychologist Supervisor in the Forensic Assessment Division at the Board of Parole Hearings from 2009 to 2022. She was a Psychologist Specialist at California Medical Facility in 2009. Kozel was a Staff Psychologist and Suicide Prevention Coordinator at San Quentin State Prison from 2007 to 2009. She was a Staff Psychologist at Napa State Hospital at the Department of State Hospitals from 2004 to 2007. Kozel earned a Doctor of Psychology degree in Clinical Psychology from Baylor University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.

Mary Thornton has been reappointed to the Board of Parole Hearings, where she has served since 2019. Thornton was a Deputy Commissioner, Administrative Law Judge at the Board of Parole Hearings from 2018 to 2019. She was a Senior Deputy District Attorney at the Madera County District Attorney’s Office from 2016 to 2017. Thornton was a Deputy District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office from 2013 to 2015. She was a Senior Deputy District Attorney at the Madera County District Attorney’s Office from 2009 to 2013. Thornton earned a Juris Doctor degree from San Joaquin College of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Marketing from California State University, Fresno.

Patricia Cassady has been reappointed to the Board of Parole Hearings, where she has served since 2016. Cassady held multiple roles at the Board of Parole Hearings from 1995 to 2016, including Deputy Commissioner, Associate Chief Deputy Commissioner, Chief Deputy Commissioner, and Administrative Law Judge. She was an Attorney at the Law Offices of Patricia A. Cassady from 1988 to 1995. Cassady earned a Juris Doctor degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Law.

Michael Ruff has been reappointed to the Board of Parole Hearings, where he has served since 2017. Ruff held multiple positions at CDCR from 2003 to 2017, including, Retired Annuitant Special Agent on the Special Projects Team at the Office of Correctional Safety and Senior Special Agent. He held multiple positions at the Deuel Vocational Institution from 1998 to 2003, including Captain and Lieutenant. Ruff held several positions at San Quentin State Prison from 1986 to 1994, including Sergeant and Correctional Officer.

View full announcements of governor appointments on the website.