Story by: Lev Cardenas, Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of NOCCCD Website
Quyen Vuong, has been appointed the new District Director of Campus Safety of North Orange County Community College District, replacing Craig Lee, who retired after years of service. Vuong began his new role in December 2025, bringing with him decades of law enforcement experience and a focus on transparency and open communication.
Vuong’s path to his current position is marked by resilience and dedication. Born in Vietnam, he and his family fled to a Malaysian refugee camp when he was three years old. In 1980, they were sponsored to move to the United States, where Vuong would later attend College of the Canyons.
Despite his parents’ initial opposition to a career in law enforcement, Vuong found a way to pursue his ambitions while honoring their wishes. He worked as a reserve deputy sheriff for the Los Angeles’s Sheriff Department while completing his education.
“In order to make a change, sometimes you have to go into a profession my parents didn’t seem to hold in high regard,” said Vuong. “Not every country is the same, and I was able to change their opinion about that.”
After earning his associate’s degree, Vuong spent 27 years working for Orange County’s Sheriff’s Department. His career included a significant role as the Chief of Police Services for the City of Mission Viejo. Vuong retired as a captain from the sheriff’s department before stepping into his current role as director of campus safety.
In his new position, Vuong has outlined a vision for NOCCCD’s campuses. One of his main priorities is fostering transparency and maintaining an open line of communication with students and faculty.
“We get our authority through shared governance and open communication,” Vuong said. “In my past career in law enforcement it proved to be the most beneficial… It’s our responsibility to share information when possible.”
While Vuong does not directly oversee Cypress College’s campus safety, he is interested in how the campus handles emergency drills and communication with the community. His commitment to transparency is reflected in his approach to crisis preparedness.
In discussing the SWAT training drills conducted at Cypress College under the leadership of Lee, Vuong emphasized the importance of informing students, staff and faculty about the drills in advance.
“To me, anxiety is a big deal,” Vuong said, “I used to be a school resource officer for junior high school and elementary school students. Whenever we have a drill, whether it’s a lockdown, shelter in place or bomb related, it’s super important to let everyone know that it is taking place. Not only for their safety, but to also have that kind of transparency.”
Vuong’s approach stems from his belief in making everyone feel secure and prepared, particularly when it comes to emergency situations. He shared his ultimate goal fis clear communication as it helps mitigate anxiety and ensures that everyone is on the same page during drills or real emergencies.
“This is a collaborative effort to make sure we are heading in the right direction,” Vuong said, “I am always looking for continuous improvement, because the day you stop looking for that is the day you should probably retire.”
Vuong also underscores the critical role of students in maintaining a safe campus environment. He wants students to feel confident that any concerns they report to campus safety will be taken seriously and addressed promptly.
“I do know that if we receive information that falls on deaf ears, that person is never going to ask us for assistance again,” Vuong said. “They are possibly experiencing a lot of fear and trauma and I know it takes a lot of courage to go and report something to campus safety, and we need to treasure that and earn that trust.”
The position of director of campus safety for Cypress College is vacant, but has an interim director, John Krok. Vuong’s leadership, along with his strong focus on communication and improvement, is expected to shape the future of campus safety within the district.
Students, staff, and faculty who have concerns or questions about campus safety can reach Quyen Vuong directly at (714) 808-1819 or via email at qvuong@nocccd.edu.
