Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Scott Kernan, 54, of West Sacramento, has been appointed undersecretary for operations at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He was owner at Kernan Consulting from 2011 to 2015. Kernan served in several positions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, including undersecretary for operations from 2008 to 2011, chief deputy secretary of adult operations from 2007 to 2008, deputy director of adult institutions from 2006 to 2007, warden at California State Prison, Sacramento from 2004 to 2006 and warden at Mule Creek State Prison from 2003 to 2004, where he was a chief deputy warden from 2001 to 2003 and a correctional administrator from 2000 to 2001. Kernan served as a correctional captain at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 1991 to 2000, a correctional lieutenant from 1987 to 1991, an associate budget analyst from 1986 to 1987, a correctional sergeant from 1985 to 1986 and a correctional officer from 1983 to 1985. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1979 to 1982. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $165,000. Kernan is a Republican.
Russell Nichols, 47, of Cameron Park, has been appointed director of the division of enterprise information services at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he has served as acting director since 2015 and was project director of the strategic offender management system from 2012 to 2014. Nichols was a data processing manager at the Office of California Correctional Health Care Services from 2010 to 2012 and at the California State Controller's Office from 2007 to 2010, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection from 1999 to 2007 and the Employment Development Department from 1997 to 1999. He served as an associate information systems analyst for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection from 1992 to 1997, where he was a programmer from 1990 to 1992. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $127,740. Nichols is a Republican.
Robert Sachs, 69, of Pasadena, has been appointed to the California Physician Assistant Board, where he has served since 2011. Sachs has been a physician assistant for cardiac surgery at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute since 1995. He was a physician assistant at Foothill Cardiothoracic from 1972 to 1995. Sachs is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, California Academy of Physician Assistants and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sachs is a Democrat.
