Management Team

The POST Management Team is comprised of the Executive Director, two Assistant Executive Directors, a Public Information Officer, and 8 Bureau Chiefs. The Management Team works with POST staff, affiliated POST agencies, and associations to develop and maintain programs and services which assist California Law Enforcement in addressing the needs of communities they serve.

The Management Team meets twice a month to discuss organizational issues and share program updates, agency developments, and upcoming events that may impact POST and its stakeholders.

Executive Director

Manuel Alvarez Jr.

Executive Director

On July 26, 2016, the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) appointed Manuel "Manny" Alvarez as the Executive Director of POST.  Manny started his employment and leadership role at POST on September 6, 2016.

Prior to joining POST, Manny served as a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1990 to 2016.  Following his training at the FBI Academy in 1990, he was assigned to the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office, San Jose Resident Agency until 2006.  From 2006 to 2010, he served as the FBI Assistant Legal Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain.  From 2010 to 2016 he served as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office.

Assistant Executive Directors

Maria Sandoval

Assistant Executive Director
Field Services Division

On May 2, 2017, Maria Sandoval was appointed as one of two Assistant Executive Directors of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).   Maria started with POST in January 2013 and was assigned to the Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau, as a Law Enforcement Consultant.  Her duties included connecting with Chiefs, Sheriff’s and Training Managers, evaluating course certification, and conducting rigorous agency compliance checks throughout the State of California. 

Maria served the majority of her municipal law enforcement career in the Sacramento Police Department.  She worked in every division within the department, and fulfilled ancillary assignments including serving as an Academy Coordinator, a Recruit Training Officer, a Field Training Officer, a Lead Lifetime Fitness Instructor and an instructor in a local police academy for over 20 years.

Maria possesses Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management and a Lifetime Teaching Credential.  In keeping her commitment to physical fitness, Maria also has completed a half Ironman triathlon, ran the Boston Marathon and runs several half marathons a year.  

Scott Loggins

Assistant Executive Director
Standards and Development Division

Scott Loggins joined POST after 23 years with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department where he held a variety of assignments including corrections, patrol, field training officer and investigations, as well as assignments as the Department’s in-service training coordinator, reserve coordinator, and academy director.  He held command-level assignments in both administration and operations, and throughout his career served as an academy instructor.  Scott held the rank of Lieutenant when he retired from the Sheriff’s Department in 2011.  Scott worked in the Basic Training Bureau for POST as a Law Enforcement Consultant where he managed all Basic Course Certification Reviews, facilitated various committees, and taught in the Director-Coordinator, Recruit Training Officer, and Scenario Manager courses before being promoted to Bureau Chief of the Basic Training Bureau.

Scott has a Master's Degree in Emergency Services Administration from the California State University, Long Beach, and is a graduate of the POST Master Instructor Development Program, the POST Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, and the FBI National Academy (Class 228).

Bureau Chiefs

Ralph Brown

Bureau Chief
Training Delivery and Compliance 

Ralph Brown, appointed Bureau Chief for the Training Program Services Bureau in December 2016, has been involved in the law enforcement profession for the past 26 years. Ralph put himself through the extended basic academy in Santa Rosa, where he accepted a job offer with the Suisun City Police Department in 1990. Ralph moved to the Fairfield Police Department in 1993, where he served as a patrol officer, and then COPPS Officer in the Special Operations Division. Looking for career development opportunities, Ralph accepted a position as a deputy sheriff with the Office of the Sheriff, Contra Costa County. His assignments included patrol and custody deputy, field training officer, department training coordinator, patrol and custody sergeant, and internal affairs sergeant. As a lieutenant, Ralph served as the assistant patrol division commander and watch commander. He served on several committees including patrol car redesign, firearms conversion, scheduling, sheriff’s technical advisory, and sheriff’s charity golf tournament. Ralph retired in 2013.

Ralph joined POST in June 2014. He took over the responsibility of Basic Course Certification Review manager, auditing police academies in California. In October 2015, Ralph was selected as the Legislative Analyst and PIO. Ralph reviewed legislation affecting California law enforcement, writes bill analysis for the Governor’s Office, communicated POST’s position to authoring Senators and Assembly members, and provided Committee testimony. As the PIO, Ralph responded to all media inquiries related to legislation, peace officer hiring and training standards and guidelines.

Ralph earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Saint Mary’s College, and a Master’s Degree in Information Systems from the University of Phoenix, where he served as associate faculty for five-years with the College of Criminal Justice and Security.

Phil Caporale

Bureau Chief
Strategic Communications and Research

In 2012, Phil Caporale retired as a Lieutenant with Fresno County Sheriff’s Office after 34 years of service.  His assignments included;  jail, civil, courts, patrol, administration, Field Training Officer, CAD, RMS, and MDT replacement projects, computer crimes, ballistic analysis, voice interoperability, emergency services, mutual aid, communications, patrol watch commander, and regional rescue coordination for law enforcement, fire, and EMS.

After retiring from the Sheriff’s Office, Phil worked as a Reserve Police Officer at the Chowchilla Police Department assisting with hiring, training, investigations, personnel management and development, and cost accounting.

Phil joined POST in 2014 as a Senior Law Enforcement Consultant. Prior to becoming bureau chief, Phil worked in the Basic Training Bureau with oversight of PC 832, Modular courses, Field Training Program management, basic dispatch academy, requalification, and basic course waivers.

Phil earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Criminology from California State University, Fresno.  Phil has a lifetime college teaching credential in police science and POST AICC certification.  He has taught at Fresno City College, California State University, Fresno, Cal-OES, National University, Red Cross, Kenyon International, and Heald College.  Phil also taught at the Fresno basic dispatcher academy for 25 years.

Larry Ellsworth

Bureau Chief
Learning Technology Resources

Larry Ellsworth retired in 2011 as a Lieutenant from the San Jose Police Department after more than 25 years of service.  Larry began his career in law enforcement in 1980 as a dispatcher for Santa Clara County Communications.  After joining the San Jose Police Department in 1986, Larry worked as a field training officer, motorcycle traffic enforcement officer, tactical observer and chief pilot for the department’s fixed wing and patrol helicopter.  Larry has also been a police academy instructor for more than 20 years and has facilitated instruction for in-service officers in the areas of instructor development, communications and leadership. 

Larry joined POST in 2013 and was assigned as the program manager for the Instructor Development Institute and the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation.  After spending three years as the program manager for the Video Training Program, Larry was promoted to Bureau Chief for the Learning Technology Resources Bureau. 

Larry earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.  Larry is a graduate of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Leadership Program, the POST Master Instructor Development Program and was a class speaker and graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.

Jim Grottkau

Bureau Chief
Basic Training

Jim Grottkau joined POST on September 01, 2016 as a Law Enforcement Consultant II in the Basic Training Bureau. As a Law Enforcement Consultant, he managed the Field Training Programs, Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course, Aviation Security Course, and the Campus Security Course. In addition to his regular duties, Jim assisted with the Basic Course Certification Reviews (BCCR) of the basic academies and facilitated in the Director/Coordinator and Recruit Training Officer Courses. In September 2018, Jim was promoted to Bureau Chief, where he will manage the Basic Training Bureau operations. Jim began his law enforcement career with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office and served a majority of his 27-year career with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, where he rose to the rank of Captain. He had many notable assignments, which included commanding the Sheriff’s Technical Services Division, West County Detention Division, and the Sheriff’s Training Division, which included overseeing the regional Law Enforcement Training Center and Basic Academy operations. Jim has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from California State University Sacramento. He is a graduate of the POST Executive Development Course, Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, and the FBI National Academy - Class #254. Jim and his wife, Janie, are the proud parents of five adult children.

Janna Munk

Bureau Chief
Training Program Services

Prior to joining POST, Janna Munk served the City of San Jose as a law enforcement officer and sergeant for 23 years. During her time at the San Jose Police Department (SJPD), she worked a variety of assignments in the field training program, detective bureau, and Air Support Unit. Some of her major career accomplishments include the development of community policing centers, civilianization and restructuring of the court liaison unit, and participating in leadership programs with the City of San Jose. In addition to her regular duties, Janna enjoyed working as an academy instructor for SJPD and South Bay Regional Training Consortium.

Janna joined POST in December of 2014 as a law enforcement consultant in Training Program Services. She was responsible for the Safe Driving Campaign, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted in the Line of Duty (LEOKA) Committee, Mental Health, and a Course Certification Pilot Project. After facilitating the completion of the Motorcycle Guidelines in 2016, Janna was made an “honorary motorcycle officer” by the MOTORS Advisory Group. In 2017, Janna was promoted to Bureau Chief of Training Program Services.

Janna holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership from Saint Mary’s College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from San Jose State University. 

Colin O'Keefe

Bureau Chief
Computer Services

Colin O'Keefe worked for 10 years at several Fortune 500 corporations in the areas of information technology, foreign currency exchange system design, and technical product marketing.  He joined POST in 2004, and has overseen projects in Network Management, Telecommunications, POST Web Applications, and Computer-Based Law Enforcement Testing.  Colin promoted to Bureau Chief of the Computer Services Bureau in 2013.

Colin is a graduate of the State of California IT Management Academy XIII.  He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of California, Davis. 

 Don Shingara

 Bureau Chief
 Management Counseling and Projects

Don Shingara became a POST employee in 2008 after serving 21 years in law enforcement. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.  Don was assigned to the Basic Training Bureau from 2008 to 2012, where his duties included analyzing Field Training courses and programs, developing content for the Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course, and assisting in Regular Basic Course academy reviews.  In 2012, he was assigned to the Management Counseling and Projects Bureau where he conducted management studies related to evidence and property, organizational efficiency, and effectiveness. 

Don was promoted to Bureau Chief of the Management Counseling and Projects Bureau in July 2015.  Don holds an Associate’s Degree in General Studies, a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management.  He proudly served in the United States Air Force Reserve as both an enlisted person and commissioned officer.