The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation honored two employees at Mule Creek State Prison on Friday, for distinguished service above and beyond the normal demands of correctional service.  The awards were presented by CDCR Secretary James Tilton at a ceremony on the West Steps of the State Capitol.  Nearly 100 employees received awards, ranging from the Medal of Valor to Unit Citations. The Distinguished Service Medal is for an employee’s exemplary work conduct with the Department for a period of months or years, or involvement in a specific assignment of unusual benefit to the Department.

In the first event, Distinguished Service Medal recipient Michael E. Doud was honored for his service at Mule Creek State Prison.  In January 1985, Michael Doud began his career with CDCR as the Vocational Cabinetmaking Instructor at Mule Creek State Prison.  He brought 17 years of cabinetmaking experience, a Contractors License, and Union Membership. Mr. Doud believes that learning of the cabinetmaking trade is but one aspect of a successful rehabilitative process.  The emotional and social requirements of his students are equally important to their successful reintegration into society. The Mule Creek Vocational Cabinetmaking Program students have designed and built approximately 2,000 projects for the local community.  The very desk that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger uses was build by Mr. Doud and the inmates in the vocational program. In the second event, Correctional Supervisor of the Year recipient Rhonda Baker was honored for her six years of service at Mule Creek Prison.