Beyond the Badge, Jobs, Training and Facilities

CDCR recruiters work military airshow event

November 10, 2025

CDCR recruiters with other law enforcement agency representatives.

CDCR staff from the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) and the Peace Officer Selection and Employee Development (POSED) units assisted the Peace Officer Recruitment Unit at a large-scale military airshow event.

Lt. Rene Vasquez, Sgt. Ana Luna, and Sgt. Arthi Vasquez attended the 44th Annual California International Airshow in Salinas. The event was held Oct. 4-5.

The air show was a great success and generated strong interest in CDCR. Crowds were drawn to see the first-time performances of Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation, which showcased the future of air travel with vertical takeoff and landing demonstrations of their all-electric aircraft.

Connecting with community

CDCR Lt. Vasquez and Sgt. Luna at the airshow.

Lt. Rene Vasquez, attending on behalf of CDCR Recruitment for the first time, said it was a great event.

“Our ability to connect with attendees in both English and Spanish was a major advantage, especially given the large Hispanic turnout. Being able to communicate directly and resonate culturally with the community helped to build trust and interest in CDCR’s mission,” he said. “The event also gave us an excellent platform to dispel misconceptions about our profession and highlight how CDCR is evolving beyond traditional correctional work. We emphasized our role as mentors, educators, and community partners dedicated to rehabilitation and positive change.”

Sgt. Arthi Vasquez agreed.

“Both Sgt. Luna and Lt. Vasquez speak Spanish so it was a tremendous benefit, allowing us to connect more effectively with the local community. (We were able to) communicate with individuals who might otherwise have felt hesitant to ask questions,” said Sgt. Vasquez. “Their bilingual skills truly enhanced our recruiting experience and helped create a welcoming environment. Together, we made a great team and represented CDCR with pride and professionalism.”

Celebrity look-alike

A CDCR recruiter speaks with the public during the military air show.

A lighthearted moment at the recruitment booth drew plenty of attention when a celebrity lookalike made an appearance. Laughter and photo requests were plentiful as many attendees noted Lt. Vasquez’s resemblance to the actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Sgt. Luna, who has attended this event for several years, also joked about the resemblance.

“We didn’t know Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was going to be recruiting with us, a.k.a. Lt. Rene Vasquez. He had at least 100 people approach say he looked just like ‘The Rock,'” said Luna.

Law enforcement partners

The outreach efforts were well received by the public and local law enforcement partners. These included members of the Salinas Police Department and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

The CDCR team represented the department with professionalism, enthusiasm, and pride throughout the event.

“It was truly a rewarding experience to be part of the initial steps for many applicants as they begin exploring a new career path in corrections,” said Sgt. Vasquez, who currently works at the academy. “Many of the attendees had great questions about the academy, and I was glad to provide insight and share my experience. It was fulfilling to see their enthusiasm and interest in joining CDCR. I’m especially excited at the thought of seeing some of those same individuals follow through with their applications and eventually arrive here at the academy to begin their journey.”

The Peace Officer Recruitment Unit is deeply appreciative of the dedicated, compassionate, and knowledgeable staff who assisted in recruiting the next generation of CDCR Correctional Officers.

Interested Correctional Officer applicants can apply online at JoinCDCR.com.

Written by Lauren Hieb, associate governmental program analyst
Peace Officer Recruitment Unit

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