Gov. Newsom reshapes corrections leadership with series of high-level appointments in the new year
Sacramento, California – At the start of the new year, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new set of state appointments. These appointments filled several top leadership positions in California’s prisons system, emergency services, and environmental regulatory agencies. The appointments, which were made public on January 1, 2026, put long-time state workers in charge of institutions, operations, and recovery efforts.
Several of the appointments involve leadership changes within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Patrick Eaton from Sonora has been named Deputy Director of Facility Support for the Division of Adult Institutions.
Eaton has worked in corrections for about 30 years. Most recently, he was the Associate Director of a reception center. Before that, he was in charge of Sierra Conservation Center and other state facilities. The Senate does not need to approve his appointment.
Joseph Tuggle from Placerville was chosen to be the Associate Director for Region I in the same division. Tuggle is the current warden at Folsom State Prison. He has served there for much of his career and has been promoted since 2000. The Senate must approve his appointment.
Newsom has hired a number of wardens to watch over the state’s biggest jails. Patwin Horn was confirmed as the Warden of Kern Valley State Prison after serving as the acting warden. Sircoya M. Williams was named Warden of the California Medical Facility.
This is a continuation of her long career, which started with clinical and supervisory roles. Rafael Acevedo was named Warden of Richard J. Donovan State Prison, and Kelly Santoro was chosen to oversee Salinas Valley State Prison after she came back to work as a retired annuitant.
Robyn Fennig from Sacramento has been appointed Deputy Director of Recovery Operations at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. This is in addition to her job as a correctional officer. Fennig has a lot of experience in disaster recovery and hazard mitigation from working with state agencies in both California and Wisconsin.
The governor also chose Rhys Williams from Orangevale to be on the Board of Environmental Safety. Williams, who has been a top advisor in the governor’s office for a long time, will serve pending Senate confirmation.
The appointments show a mix of continuity and change, with a lot of institutional expertise coming from other governmental institutions.
