Committee Leaders
Greg Augusta
Director
Greg is a veteran Law Enforcement Administrator who retired afterthirty-three years with the California Highway Patrol. He began hiscareer on September 11, 1972, and upon graduation from the CHP Academy,was assigned as an officer to the East Los Angeles Area. He soontransferred to the El Centro Area, where he remained until promotion toSergeant. He worked in the South Los Angeles Area until beingtransferred to CHP Headquarters in 1982. He performed a variety of jobsand was promoted to Lieutenant in 1985, and then Captain in 1989. InMarch 1992, he was assigned to command the Newhall Area where heremained until he was promoted to Assistant Chief in 1998, and assignedto Southern Division in Los Angeles. He promoted to Chief in 2001, andto Assistant Commissioner in 2002. At the time of his retirement, Gregwas the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Field Operations.
Greg has an extensive background in planning and problemsolving—skills that he acquired through participation in major eventssuch as the Northridge Earthquake, the 1992 riots, the 2000 DemocraticNational Convention, and the Sacramento Agricultural Convention.
Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, a JurisDoctorate Degree, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Greghas also been a member of several professional law enforcementassociations including; the International Association of Chiefs ofPolice, the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County, theCalifornia Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Peace OfficersAssociation, and the FBI National Academy Associates.
Scott Hand
Research Committee
Scott Hand has lived in the Antelope Valley since 1989. He is married with three childrenand works for the Air Force supporting flight test, training, architecture and strategicplanning at Edwards Air Force Base. A gang shootout and stabbings next door to his houseone night in October was the significant event that caused him to be active in learningabout the public safety problems we face here in the Antelope Valley and to compel thelocal, county, state, and federal organizations to focus on these problems.
Sherry Marquez
Performance Measurement Committee
Sherry Marquez is the wife of Ed Marquez, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, and theirfamily came to the Antelope Valley sixteen years ago on assignment with the US Air Force.Sherry and Ed have been married for thirty-six years, they have two grown children, andthree grandchildren. Sherry serves as a ladies’ counselor at Lancaster Baptist Church, andis presently a member of the General Plan – Citizens Advisory Committee for the City ofLancaster. Sherry is extremely concerned about the future of Lancaster and the AntelopeValley.
Sherry is running for Lancaster City Council. You can get more information at Sherry4Lancaster.com.
Mike Yarborough
Parolee Measurement Committee
Mike Yarborough has been a resident of Palmdale since 1993. He was employed byCalifornia Department of Corrections for twenty-seven years, retired in 2005, having servedas Warden at California State Prison Los Angeles County in Lancaster and also Warden atCalifornia Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. Mike is currently attending law school atUniversity of West Los Angeles, School of Law. He is married with two grown children
Tom Pickens
Ministerial Services Committee
Dr. Tom Pickens is the founder and senior pastor of the Antelope Valley Christian Center,located in Lancaster, CA. He is also the founder of Victory Christian Center now pastoredby Pastor Al Zorn, located in Victorville, CA
Donita Winn
Meetings and Communications Committee
Donita Winn came to the Antelope Valley in 1973. She chaired the successful politicalaction committee, Classrooms for Kids, which helped build schools in the LancasterSchool District. She also chaired the Political Action Committee, Quality Schools forStudents, which also successfully passed a general obligation bond for the constructionand modernization of schools in the Antelope Valley Union High School District. Mostrecently, she has been co-chair of the political action committee, Friends of Antelope ValleyCollege, that resulted in the passage of a General Obligation Bond for the construction andmodernization of the college.
Donita was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Antelope Valley Union High SchoolDistrict in 2002 and was elected to a four-year term in 2003. She currently serves as amember of that Board, but she has not given up her volunteer services and advocacy forchildren. She is a member of the Lancaster Education Foundation and on the Boardof the Antelope Valley School boards Association. She takes on special projects such aspainting a mural of the solar system on five classroom buildings for an elementary school,videographer for TEAM Video Productions that produces video projects for an elementarydistrict, and she serves on many committees and councils. Ms. Winn even found time tobecome a recent graduate of the CSBA Masters in Governance Program.
Ms. Winn and her husband, Duane, have two daughters and currently reside in the AntelopeValley.
Steve Baker
Family Resources Committee
Steve Baker has lived in the Antelope Valley since 1959. He attended Yucca & Joshua ElementarySchools and graduated from A.V. High School in 1970. He became the Executive Director of GraceResource Center in 1991 and has worked with local churches and businesses to build Grace Centerinto a large emergency service center helping 8,000 people each month with emergency groceries,hot “Souper” meals, clothing, welfare to work P.O.W.E.R. classes, and ongoing computer trainingclasses.
Steve and his wife Alice are members of the Lancaster Sunrise Rotary, sit on the Board of theAntelope Valley YMCA, and attend Grace Chapel. Steve volunteers with the Volunteer Clergy forthe Lancaster Sheriff Station, and is a member of the A.V. Homeless Coalition and the ExecutiveCommittee of the A.V. Christian Ministerial Association.
Samantha Alvarez
Neighborhood Spotlight Committee
Samantha Alvarez has been a resident of Lancaster since 1986. She has been married to herhusband, John, for over thirty years, with two grown children, and three grandchildren.She has been employed with the Lancaster School District for over twenty years in variouspositions. She is a concerned citizen looking for ways to keep the Antelope Valley a greatplace to raise a family.
David Vierra
Educational Relations Committee
Dr. Vierra is a native of the Antelope Valley. He was born and raised in Lancaster andattended Antelope Valley High School and Antelope Valley Community College. He hassince received a Bachelors degree and teaching credential from Cal State Northridge, aMaster’s Degree from Azusa Pacific University, and a Ph.D. from Claremont GraduateUniversity. Dr. Vierra taught for several years, including a three-year tour with theDepartment of Defense, teaching military dependents in Germany. Currently, he is withthe Antelope Valley Union High School District, where he has served as teacher, Dean, VicePrincipal, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and for the past fiveyears, as Superintendent.
Dr. Vierra has been active as a coach with local youth sports including basketball, baseball,softball, and soccer. He and his wife, Joy, have three children and currently reside in theAntelope Valley.