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.

Read full biography i

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.  

Vacant

Assistant Executive Director
Standards and Development Division

Legislative Liaison & Public Information Officer

Meagan Poulos

Legislative Liaison & Public Information Officer

Meagan Poulos joined POST in January 2019 as the Legislative Liaison and Public Information Officer for POST.

Prior to joining POST, she spent seven years as the Training and Program Manager for the California Police Chiefs’ Association. There, Meagan helped to successfully launch the association’s legislative program and established their grassroots efforts to advocate for law enforcement at the state capitol. She is most proud of her work with the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Training Symposium; an event that has grown to over 1,000 attendees and includes women in law enforcement of all rank and file from across the country.

Meagan earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2007.

Bureau Chiefs

Scott Campbell

Bureau Chief
Administrative Services

Scott Campbell began his law enforcement career in June 1990 as an officer with the California Highway Patrol where he served in patrol, field training, investigative, and vehicle theft program management assignments.  In February 1998, Scott was appointed as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where he served in investigative, tactical, and supervisory assignments at the Albuquerque and Sacramento Field Offices as well as FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  While in the FBI, Scott completed several overseas assignments including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terrorism.  In June 2018, Scott retired from the FBI as a Supervisory Special Agent.

Following his retirement from the FBI, Scott joined POST in August 2018 as a Law Enforcement Consultant II in the Basic Training Bureau where he managed the Field Training Program.  In April 2019, Scott was promoted to Bureau Chief of the Administrative Services Bureau.

Scott earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento.  Scott and his wife, Wendy, are the proud parents of twins who graduated from college in 2018.

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's 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.

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. 

 Rosanne Richeal

 Bureau Chief
 Learning Technology Resources

Rosanne Richeal began her law enforcement career in February 1991 as a reserve police officer with the Sacramento Police Department. In 1993, she was hired full-time with the West Sacramento Police Department as a police officer. She served 5 years in various assignments to include patrol, street crimes unit, a field training officer, K-9 handler, and as the department recruiter. In 1998, Rosanne lateraled to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. She rose through the ranks and retired in 2016 as a Chief Deputy. As a deputy and sergeant with the sheriff’s office, she worked assignments in corrections, patrol, motors, employee relations and was a field training officer and jail training officer. As a lieutenant, she served as a watch commander in patrol, an executive lieutenant in the Airport Division, and as an assistant and acting Chief of Police for the contract city of Rancho Cordova. As a Captain, she commanded the Field Services Division, Main Jail, and served as Chief of Police in the city of Rancho Cordova. During her tenure as Chief Deputy, she held executive over site for Contracts and Regional Services, and Support Services. In September of 2018, Rosanne was hired by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and served as the Basic Course Coordinator in the Basic Training Bureau before being promoted to Bureau Chief in the Learning Technology Resources Bureau. 

Rosanne earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Management from the Union Institute and University and is a graduate of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) West Point Leadership Program.

John Lowden

 Bureau Chief
 Strategic Communications and Research

John joins POST following a 26-year career with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. John held a variety of assignments in his career, which included: custody, patrol, investigations, Civil, Emergency Services, Professional Standards, Coroner and Special Operations. John retired as an Assistant Sheriff, overseeing the Field Operations Bureau.

John has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and is an alumni of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, POST Executive Development Course and POST Command College.

Jackie Nelson

Bureau Chief
Training Delivery and Compliance

Jackie Nelson was appointed to Bureau Chief for the Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau in January 2021. She began working for POST in April of 2020 as a Law Enforcement Consultant II with the Management Counseling and Projects Bureau. Jackie came to POST from the Nevada Department of Public Safety where she served for 29 years and retired as the Deputy Director for the State. She was responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational components of the agency which included the Nevada Highway Patrol, Parole and Probation, Capitol Police, Dignitary Protection, Investigations, Emergency Management, State Fire Marshal, Training, Traffic Safety, Office of Professional Responsibility and several other support divisions. During her career, she served in a variety of roles throughout the department.

Jackie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Class 254. 

Mike Radford

 Bureau Chief
 Training Program Services Bureau

In 2018, Mike Radford retired from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office as Chief of the contract City of Waterford. With 25 years of law enforcement experience, Mike’s assignments included; custody, patrol, internal affairs, Field Training Officer, and investigations. Mike was promoted to Lieutenant in 2007 and helped positions of Patrol Commander, Investigation Lieutenant, and Chief of Waterford Police Services. Mike was a member of the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team for 19 years, completing the last 11 as Tactical Commander.

Mike has actively taught in local police academies since 1999 and was an Adjunct Faculty member of Los Positas and San Joaquin Delta College until 2018. Mike taught in the areas of Arrest and Control, Use of Force, Firearms and Hazardous Materials.

Following his retirement, Mike joined POST in October of 2019 as a Law Enforcement Consultant II in the Training Program Services bureau where he managed Crisis Intervention Training, and the Master Instructor Program. In October of 2019, Mike was promoted to Bureau Chief of Training Program Services. Mike earned a Bachelor's Degree in Police Management from Union Institute University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Class 261.