California Honors Department of General Services Employee with State’s Highest Honor for Public Servants 

SACRAMENTO, CA – The state of California awarded Department of General Services employee FannieLyn Rodriguez with a Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Award for her act of heroism when she came to the aid of a stabbing victim. The Medal of Valor Award is the highest honor the state can bestow upon its employees, given on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom. 

“FannieLyn’s quick action and selfless service exemplify the values we hold dear at DGS,” said Department of General Services Director Ana M. Lasso. “She didn’t hesitate to step up when she saw an urgent need for aid, and we applaud this well-deserved recognition.”  

Ms. Rodriguez is a custodian in our Capitol Historical Region, which comprises the State Capitol building, the Legislative Office building, and several other high-profile buildings in downtown Sacramento. In August 2018, Ms. Rodriguez was on her way to work for an evening shift at the State Capitol when she witnessed a man stab another man at 11th and O Streets. Ms. Rodriguez, who is also a licensed certified nursing assistant, immediately acted by removing her DGS work shirt to wrap around the victim’s arm and staunch the bleeding until paramedics arrived. Because the assailant had not yet been apprehended by law enforcement, Ms. Rodriguez put herself at considerable risk by stopping to help the victim, who survived. 

Ms. Rodriguez was initially set to receive her Medal of Valor at an in-person ceremony in 2020, but it was canceled due to the pandemic. The Medal of Valor Awards were presented virtually to the recipients and a total of 46 state employees were honored. 

“I’m so proud of the heroism demonstrated by FannieLyn Rodriguez,” said Government Operations Agency Secretary Yolanda Richardson. “I’ve spent time working alongside employees like FannieLyn, who work hard to keep our buildings in top condition, even during the pandemic. It’s my honor to recognize her for going above and beyond the call of duty.”  

The Medal of Valor Award is sponsored by the California Department of Human Resources. Award nominations are made by the employee’s department, reviewed by the statewide Merit Award Board, and selected by the director of CalHR. Since the program began in 1959, 700 state employees have received Medals of Valor. 

The award comes in two distinctions: the Special Service Award (Silver, which Ms. Rodriguez received) for an act of heroism by a state employee extending above and beyond the normal call of duty or service performed at personal risk to his or her safety to save human life or state property and the Special Act Award (Gold) for an extraordinary act of heroism by a state employee extending far above and beyond the normal call of duty or service, performed at great risk to his or her own life in an effort to save human life. 

To view the awards ceremony, visit CalHR’s YouTube page. For more information about the award, visit the Medal of Valor website.  

DGS serves the public by providing a variety of services to state agencies through procurement and acquisition solutions; real estate management and design; environmentally friendly transportation; professional printing, design and web services; administrative hearings; legal services; building standards; oversight of structural safety, fire/life safety and accessibility for the design and construction of K-12 public schools and community colleges; funding for school construction; and disability access.