This year’s CALCASA Leadership Conference included several awards, the most prestigious of which were given to the Adjutant General of the California National Guard and a State Senator. CALCASA’s Leadership Awards are givent to individuals who have shown leadership in the area of preventing and responding to sexual assault in our community.

General Wade AwardMajor General William Wade is the 44th Adjutant General of the California National Guard appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005. As the Adjutant General, he serves as Director of the State of California’s Military Department and leads the largest, most tasked National Guard force in the United States, with an authorized strength of 18,000 Army National Guard and 4,900 Air National Guard members serving in 35 countries.

Through his leadership he fostered a culture that has encouraged sexual assault survivors to come forth to seek help. His compassionate concern for his troops is well know throughout his command and their families. He holds his leaders to high standard in the California National Guard as evidenced by his pursuit of justice victims of sexual violence.

Senator Alquist AwardSenator Elaine Alquist is a lifetime champion of crime victims, and the first woman to chair the Senate Public Safety Committee. She authored ground breaking legislation that makes it easier to protect our children from sexual predators.

She has been fighting for several years now to repeal the Statute of Limitations for victims of sexual assault (SB 46). This bill was held in Senate Public Safety Committee, but Senator Alquist is working with leadership to get it passed later this year or in January. She has vowed to never give up on victims rights.

Both of these leaders have been a tremendous support to the work of sexual assault victim advocates, and CALCASA is proud to have honored them this year.