EXECUTIVE STAFF

• Jacob Appelsmith, Director
• Timothy Gorsuch, Chief Deputy Director
• Eduardo Jimenez, Assistant Director, Administration
• Lori Ajax, Deputy Division Chief - Headquarters
• Susie Smith, Legislative Officer
• Chris Albrecht, Assistant Director - Northern Division
• Joseph Cruz, Assistant Director - Southern Division
• Eric Hirata, Deputy Division Chief - Northern Division
• Rick Ryan, Deputy Division Chief - Southern Division
• Beth Goldberg, Deputy Division Chief - Southern Division
• Matthew Botting, General Counsel
• Tamara Colson, Chief Prosecuting Counsel

Right Column

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Assistant Director (Southern Division) - Joseph Cruz

On September 1, 2004, Joseph Cruz was appointed ABC Assistant Director by ABC Director Jerry Jolly. Cruz replaced Lupe Garcia who was promoted to Chief Deputy Director. Cruz has been with the Department for almost 20 years starting with ABC in June of 1985 as a Special Investigator in the Santa Ana District Office. He has been a supervising investigator in both Santa Ana and Fresno and was promoted to District Administrator in Fresno from 1998 to 2001. He was promoted to Deputy Division Chief in Southern California in January 2001.

Cruz has received numerous letters of commendation from both outside and within the Department for meritorious accomplishments during his time with ABC. He has served on coalition boards and works well with local law enforcement, legislators and industry members. He graduated from California State University at Fresno in May of 1984 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology.

As Assistant Director, he oversees the operation of 13 field offices and 219 employees in ABC Southern Division, which stretches from Kern County on the North to the Mexican Border.

He lives in Riverside County with his wife and two children.

Joe most recently graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy Class 243 in December of 2010.