With a smile, R.K. Wong recalled his first prison job out of the correctional officer academy 26 years ago – working San Quentin Tower #4 on the graveyard shift. He said he thought, “What did I do to deserve this?”
In December 2008, he returned to his roots, this time as the new acting warden at S.Q..
His first two years on the job were assignments in virtually all areas of San Quentin, from the dining hall to the lock-up units. In September 1985, he was transferred to CSP-Solano, “At the start of the California prison boom,” acting Warden Wong said in an interview Jan. 13.
For the next 16 years, Wong worked his way up the ranks and held a variety of positions. After promoting to first sergeant, and then lieutenant, he served as a correctional counselor (CC) I, CCII, acting Facility Captain and acting Custody Captain. His last assignments at Solano were that of gang investigations coordinator and Investigative Services Lt.
In 2001, Wong was promoted to Investigative Services Unit (ISU) captain at the Level IV prison at High Desert. He said he enjoyed working at High Desert, where he also served as associate warden.
Wong transferred back to S.Q. in 2006, where he briefly served as acting chief deputy warden and then briefly as the acting warden prior to the arrival in July 2006 of Warden Robert Ayers, Jr. from CSP-Los Angeles (Lancaster). “And we switched,” said Wong. “I became the acting warden at Lancaster.”
In February 2007 Wong went back to High Desert as an associate warden. In July 2008 he was promoted to chief deputy warden at Solano State Prison. On Dec. 31, 2008 he was officially assigned as the acting warden of S.Q., and he is now awaiting confirmation as warden. “Here I am, kinda coming full-circle,” Wong said. “I began my career here, and I’m hoping to end my career here.”
