Command Staff
UNDERSHERIFF
Ken Binder
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Undersheriff Ken Binder began his law enforcement career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office in 1999. Undersheriff Binder worked as a Patrol Deputy, Sexual Assault Investigator, and Homicide Detective Sergeant. He was also a member of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team, Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Sheriff’s Off-Road Enforcement Team, and was a Field Training Officer.
As a Lieutenant, Undersheriff Binder held positions as the Academy Director for the Sheriff’s Office Basic Police Academy and as a Patrol Watch Commander.
As a Captain, Undersheriff Binder commanded the Investigations Bureau and the West Valley Patrol Division. The Investigations Bureau is responsible for all criminal investigations and follow up. The West Valley Patrol Division is responsible for all law enforcement services in the cities of Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills, and in the unincorporated west valley response areas.
As an Assistant Sheriff, Undersheriff Binder oversaw Enforcement Operations with direct responsibility for six divisions: Headquarters Patrol, West Valley Patrol, Transit Patrol, Investigations, Special Operations, and Civil/Warrants.
In November of 2020, Undersheriff Binder was promoted to Undersheriff and began overseeing all daily operations of the Sheriff’s Office while reporting directly to the Sheriff. Undersheriff Binder also held the Acting Sheriff role from October–December in 2022 before the current Sheriff-elect took Office.
Undersheriff Binder holds a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from San Jose State University, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Class 248.
In his spare time, Undersheriff Binder enjoys spending time with his family and participating in outdoor activities.
ASSISTANT SHERIFF
Dalia Rodriguez
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Assistant Sheriff Dalia Rodriguez emigrated from El Salvador in early 1980's and became a US citizen in 1997. She has a BA in Political Science from San Jose State University and numerous courses in Public Administration. AS Rodriguez has over 23 years of law enforcement experience.
As a deputy and sergeant, Assistant Sheriff Rodriguez had the opportunity to serve in different assignments including Headquarters, West Valley Patrol, Investigations, Internal Affairs - County Counsel Investigator, and served as a member of the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT). As a Lieutenant and Captain she served as Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (SERT) Commander, and assigned to Headquarters Patrol, Court Security, Academy Director, Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office, Civil Warrants, and Special Operations.
In December of 2020, Assistant Sheriff Rodriguez was promoted to her current rank and was assigned to oversee the Support Services Bureau which includes, Court Security, Stanford University, Personnel, Training, and Valley Medical Center.
ASSISTANT SHERIFF
David Sepulveda
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Assistant Sheriff David Sepulveda was born and raised in San Jose, California, and currently resides in South Santa Clara County. He started his law enforcement career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office in 1989. While a captain, he was assigned to oversee various Custody Bureau Divisions, including the Main Jail, Elmwood, Jail Reforms, Support Services, and Administrative Services, as well as the Transportation and Internal Affairs Units.
His early career afforded him opportunities to work as a Jail Training Officer (JTO), Emergency Response Team Member, and Acute Mental Health Unit officer, and he spent some time working at the now closed North County Jail in Palo Alto. As a sergeant, he held assignments in both the Classification and Internal Affairs Units. He also served as the Assistant Division Commander for both the Main Jail Division and Support Services Division, which included the Programs, Industries, and Food Services units.
Assistant Sheriff Sepulveda has been a two-time appointee to the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Executive Steering Committee to update California Title 15 and 24 minimum jail standards. He is a 2008 Graduate of the San Jose-Silicon Valley Leadership Group, has served on several committees and workgroups for positive change such as the County Drought Task Force and Jail Reforms Workgroup, and is a long-standing member of the Bay Area Jail Managers Committee.
ASSISTANT SHERIFF
Ricardo Urena
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Assistant Sheriff Ricardo “Rich” Urena was born and raised in the Bay Area. He began his law enforcement career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office in 2001. Assistant Sheriff Urena worked as a Patrol Deputy in each of the three Patrol Divisions before becoming a Field Training Officer. In 2007 he was assigned to the newly created Sheriff’s Office Justice Training Center in Morgan Hill as a Recruit Training Officer.
As a Detective, Assistant Sheriff Urena worked in the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force while holding a collateral assigned working aboard Sheriff’s Office STAR-1 helicopter as a Tactical Flight Observer. In 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and reassigned to the West Valley Patrol Division as a Detective Sergeant.
In 2011 he was assigned to Valley Medical Center as the Assistant Director of Protective Services responsible for the operations of the hospital’s Protective Services Department. He was promoted to Lieutenant and returned to the Investigations Division until he was promoted to Captain in 2015.
While holding the rank of Captain, he commanded the Court Security Division responsible for the safety and security of court operations, the West Valley Patrol Division responsible for law enforcement services to the contract cities of Cupertino, Saratoga, Town of Los Altos Hills as well as the unincorporated west valley region, and the Investigations Division.
Assistant Sheriff Urena holds an Associate of Arts in Administration of Justice from Ohlone College, a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma, and he is currently working towards the completion of a Master of Arts in Leadership.
Assistant Sheriff Urena is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy class #269 and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, California Peace Officers Association, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates.
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Thuyet Dang
Thuyet emigrated from Vietnam in early 1990’s to Sacramento, California, where she received her BA in Business Management, Accountancy, cum laude, at California State University, Sacramento. She has over 15 years of experience in financial accounting, fiscal control, budgeting, human resources, employee relations, employee benefits, information system and general administrative functions of city and county governments. She also holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
She began her career in government and public administration in 2003 starting with Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System (Sacramento County) where she was a Senior Accounting Manager until 2018 responsible for the financial accounting, fiscal control, budgeting, human resources, employee relations, employee benefits, information systems and general administrative functions of a $9 billion organization. She spearheaded and led a 5-year, $20 million pension administration system implementation to ensure consistency in business process, rules, and calculations that improves data security and service delivery.
Prior to joining the Sheriff’s Office as a Financial and Administrative Services Manager, Thuyet was also a Financial Services Manager with the City of Los Altos and a Director of Financial and Business Operations with the Finance Agency, Santa Clara County responsible for the Agency’s financial strategy and business process, accounting functions having county-wide impact, and the general administrative functions of the Agency including financial, budgetary, fiscal control, human resources, employee relations, contract solicitation and procurement, asset management, emergency services, and record retention.
Thuyet has three children, Sean, Leila and Lilianne and enjoys hiking, biking, sewing and baking.