In 1984, Rod Pacheco began his career as a Deputy District Attorney for Riverside County. In a short period of time he advanced to the level of Senior Deputy District Attorney and specialized in homicide and death penalty cases. During the last 10 years at the District Attorney's Office, Rod won every case he prosecuted, including the conviction and sentencing of five murderers to California's death row.

His effectiveness and dedication to public safety was acknowledged in 1984 when he was named "Prosecutor of the Year" in the Juvenile Crime Division. In 1987 Rod received the "Outstanding Achievement Award" and in 1994 he received the "Special Achievement Award" for his work in the District Attorney's Criminal Division.

Seeking a more comprehensive impact on public safety Rod ran for the California State Assembly in 1996.

That year, Rod Pacheco was the first Latino Republican elected to the California State Assembly in over a century. Later, he served as Republican Leader for the Republican caucus. His election marked the first time in California's history that a Latino has served as the Republican Leader in the State Legislature.

In his first term in the legislature Rod Pacheco served as the Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee, and the Select Committee on Education Technology. His efforts in this area resulted in numerous accomplishments for California's schools, most notably a major investments in textbooks and a concerted push for stronger school accountability, increased safety measures on schoolyards, and the implementation of statewide testing standards.

During his legislative tenure, the California School Boards Association and the University of California Alumni Association recognized his commitment to education at all levels and both named Rod Pacheco their "Legislator of the Year."

In 2000, Assemblyman Pacheco assembled a bipartisan legislative coalition aimed at reforming the Cal Grant system so that all eligible students would be provided the resources necessary to attend college. Working closely with Senate Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco) on Senate Bill 1644, the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program, passed both houses of the State Legislature and was signed into law. John Mockler, then Secretary of Child Development for the Governor, hailed it as ".the most significant educational reform since the G.I. bill". Assemblyman Pacheco was honored by the California State University Students Association as their "Legislator of the Year" for that achievement.

Drawing upon his experience working with the law enforcement community, Assemblyman Pacheco felt compelled to seek greater protections for the men and women of law enforcement. During his first term in office, Assemblyman Pacheco authored the successful Proposition 222- "The Peace Officer's Safety Initiative" - which prohibited the possibility of parole for the murder of a peace officer. Proposition 222 garnered nearly 80% of California voters support on the June 1998 ballot.

In honor of Assemblyman Pacheco's commitment to victims and the criminal justice system numerous public safety associations recognized his efforts and named him "Legislator of the Year". They included Crime Victims United of California, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, California Department of Forestry Firefighters Association, California District Attorney's Association and the California Highway Patrol. On a local level, the Riverside Sheriff's Association and the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Riverside County also honored Assemblyman Pacheco.

His previous commitment to volunteer public service and to victims of crime attracted the attention of significant non profit organizations. Kidsafe, dedicated to protecting children, and the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau, committed to protecting victims of crime, each named Assemblyman Pacheco to their board of directors as an honorary member.

In his district, Assemblyman Rod Pacheco served as a board member of the University of California at Riverside Friends of Education and the Fender Museum of Music and the Arts.

In 2002, Assemblyman Pacheco concluded his legislative service and returned to Riverside County as a Chief-Deputy District Attorney. Riverside County presently has over 2 million people and is expected to add another million residents in the next ten years. The District Attorney's office is now the fourth largest in California and the 15th largest in the United States.

In 2003, Chief Pacheco was promoted to Assistant District Attorney for the Western Division for the Riverside County District Attorneys office.

Rod currently serves on the board of directors of the La Sierra University Foundation, the Community Foundation, Shelter from the Storm, The Barbara Sinatra Children's Foundation, and the Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee, a non-profit dedicated to honoring law enforcement officers.

Rod is also the Chairman of the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) Capital Litigation Committee, which will focus on capital punishment issues, policies, and strategies on the death penalty.

In 2003, the University of California at Los Angeles honored Rod by naming him as a Senior Fellow of the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research.

Having served over twenty years as District Attorney, Grover Trask announced in 2004 his intent to retire at the end of his term. Thirty days later Rod Pacheco announced his intent to run for District Attorney in 2006. At the time of that announcement Rod was honored to have the endorsement of the District Attorney, the Sheriff, four County Supervisors, all of the associations representing the men and women of law enforcement, including the Deputy District Attorneys Association.

On June 6, 2006, Rod Pacheco was elected to the position of District Attorney of Riverside County. He faced no opposition in his election and officially began his term on January 1, 2007.

Rod Pacheco has been a resident of the Inland Empire for over 40 years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 at the University of California, Riverside and in 1983 earned his Law Degree at the University of San Diego Law School.

He resides in Riverside with his wife and their four children.

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