Placerville, Calif. — Aug. 2, 2025
COL. (CA) Duane A. Tadlock of Placerville has been officially promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and named Deputy Commanding General of the California State Guard, becoming the first officer in the state force to reach general officer rank without prior federal service. The promotion ceremony was held July 12, 2025, at the Consolidated Headquarters Complex in Rancho Cordova, where hundreds attended the event including senior state guard leadership.
Tadlock, a reserve sergeant with the Placerville Police Department, brings more than four decades of service in both state guard and civilian law enforcement positions. He began his law enforcement career with Sacramento PD in 1982, later serving with UC Davis Police, the Elk Grove Unified School District, and the California Horse Racing Board and Lottery enforcement divisions, and ultimately arriving at Placerville PD as a reserve sergeant.
In his remarks Tadlock described the scope of his new role:
“When Brigadier General Adams is out of state … the running of the CSG falls on my shoulders. … managing Emergency State Active Duty missions, and assisting all our CSG volunteers throughout the State of California”.
Tadlock’s rise within the California State Guard reflects more than 41 years of service. Beginning in 1984 as a corporal, he advanced through the enlisted and warrant officer ranks before being commissioned as an officer in 2005. He was promoted to colonel in March 2022 and held key leadership roles including Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy and Policy before being tapped for deputy commanding general.
Timeline & Stakeholders
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July 12, 2025: Promotion ceremony at Joint Forces Headquarters, Rancho Cordova.
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Stakeholders: California State Guard leadership, including Brig. Gen. Larry Adams and Command Sgt. Maj. Rebecca Wolkenhauer; Placerville Police Department; local community.
Tadlock’s promotion marks a milestone in California emergency preparedness, reflecting deeper integration of the CSG with California’s National Guard under a mustang officer who rose from the enlisted ranks. His dual civilian-law enforcement and military service roots give him a unique perspective on local readiness, particularly in serving El Dorado County in emergencies.
