Al Valdez,PhD

Al Valdez, Ph.D.

Al is currently a professor at the University of California, Irvine. He retired from the Orange County District Attorney’s office in April 2006, where he was the Gang Unit supervisor. He has over 28 years of law enforcement experience with special emphasis on narcotic and gang investigations, undercover field operations, and multi-agency task forces and prosecutions.  He has written over 80 articles and published four books on gang histories, customs and practices, and related issues.  Al was selected as the 2001 District Attorney Investigator of the Year for the state of California. In 2005 he received the Academic Achievement Award for educational and training achievements by the Asian Gang Investigators Association of California.  In 2006 he was awarded the Business Man of the Year and was an honoary Co-chairman for the California Business Advisory Council for the Rebublican National Committee.