TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- The California Correctional Institution is pleased to announce that Fernando Gonzalez has been appointed Warden by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Gonzalez started his career with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) at the California Men’s Colony (CMC) as a Correctional Officer from 1981 to 1986. Mr. Gonzalez then promoted and served as a Correctional Sergeant from 1986 to 1989, Correctional Counselor I from 1989 to 1990, Correctional Lieutenant from 1990 to 1993, Correctional Counselor II-Supervisor from 1993 to 1996 and Correctional Captain from 1996 to 2002. Mr. Gonzalez then served as an Acting Correctional Administrator for CMC from 2002 to 2005.

Gonzalez was promoted and transferred to CCI as a Correctional Administrator in 2005 and served as Chief Deputy Warden since 2006. In 2007, Mr. Gonzalez took the position of Acting Warden at CCI.

California Correctional Institution, a minimum- to maximum-security prison, is located 52 miles east of Bakersfield. The prison opened in 1933, houses more than 5,800 minimum through maximum-custody inmates and employs more than 2,000 staff.