36 State Employees Awarded Governor’s Medal of Valor for Acts of Extraordinary Heroism

For Immediate Release: June 12, 2026

Contact:
Angela Musallam
Deputy Director of Communications
Angela.Musallam@calhr.ca.gov
(916) 202-4633

SACRAMENTO, CA – 36 California state employees were honored today for taking lifesaving action and demonstrating exceptional courage in life-or-death situations. They were recognized at the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Ceremony at the California Highway Patrol Academy, in West Sacramento. The award, given on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom, is the state’s highest honor for heroism.

“Today we celebrate 36 heroes who went beyond the call of duty,” said Governor Gavin Newsom in recorded remarks. “They were not heroes by luck, by coincidence, or because of their titles. They’re heroes because of who they are, because the same instincts that drew them to public service are the same instincts that drove them headlong into danger.”

Today’s awardees demonstrated extraordinary bravery across a range of life-threatening situations. A heroic California Highway Patrol officer was among the honorees recognized for his quick actions under extreme pressure when he sprinted toward an active shooter at an Oroville school in just ninety-two seconds, ensured the threat was neutralized, and provided lifesaving care to two injured kindergartners. Another award recipient risked his life during a raging wildfire to pull a truck driver from flames, extinguish the fire, and coordinate a helicopter evacuation amid rapidly worsening conditions. Two more heroes shielded children during gunfire at separate youth baseball games, and others rescued civilians from crashes, disasters, and violent incidents across the state. Their bravery reflects extraordinary commitment to public service and the safety of all Californians.

This year’s honorees also include a rare Medal of Valor family legacy. One Caltrans employee being recognized for rescuing an elderly woman trapped in her vehicle after it plunged down a steep embankment is the father of a 2019 Medal of Valor recipient — marking an uncommon, multigenerational tradition of extraordinary public service.

A collection of video profiles that showcase several of this year’s acts of heroism will be available in the Medal of Valor story playlist.

Listed below are this year’s 36 honorees, their award levels, and their employing departments:

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation   

California Department of Food and Agriculture 

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 

California Department of Transportation

California Highway Patrol

California State Teachers’ Retirement System

The Medal of Valor Award is sponsored by the California Department of Human Resources. Each year, state departments nominate employees whose heroic actions are then reviewed by the State Merit Award Board and approved by the Director of CalHR. Since its establishment in 1959, the program has recognized more than 850 state employees for acts of exceptional bravery.

The award is presented in two distinctions. The Special Service Award (Silver) honors acts of heroism that exceed the normal call of duty and involve personal risk to protect human life or state property. The Special Act Award (Gold) recognizes extraordinary acts of heroism performed at great personal risk in an effort to save human life.

For more information about the Medal of Valor Award, visit the Medal of Valor website.

About CalHR

CalHR is responsible for all issues related to employee salaries and benefits, job classifications, civil rights, training, exams, recruitment and retention. For most employees, many of these matters are determined through the collective bargaining process managed by CalHR.

CalHR was created on July 1, 2012, by Governor Brown’s Reorganization Plan Number 1 of 2011. The reorganization plan consolidated the State of California’s two personnel departments, combining the Department of Personnel Administration with certain programs of the State Personnel Board. For more information about CalHR, please visit our website.