The Executive of the Year Award is given annually to the person or persons who consistently demonstrate remarkable leadership skills, integrity, values, vision, commitment to excellence, agency performance, community service and diversity.
Executive of the Year recipient:
James ‘Jim’ Robertson, Warden, Pelican Bay State Prison
Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) Warden James “Jim” Robertson began his career as a Correctional Officer at California Correctional Institution (CCI) in 1994 and has served in several positions at PBSP, CCI, and San Quentin State Prison. Warden Robertson is a soft-spoken leader with profound wisdom, and a tremendous scope of experience.
His unique and proactive style of leadership created a PBSP team adept at navigating the change of CDCR culture and programs. He is a champion of CDCR’s rehabilitative efforts. Under Warden Robertson’s leadership, PBSP is thriving with rehabilitative programing opportunities.
He is a fierce advocate for constant change and is a forward-thinking leader, always challenging his staff to do better and be better. He holds himself and his staff to the highest of standards of professionalism, constantly challenging staff to examine what we do in corrections through a different lens in order to develop into outstanding correctional professionals.
