Over the Rose Bowl (Photo – Ted Eytan)
The 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics represent a monumental event for California, one that will draw millions of visitors, span multiple venues, and demand seamless coordination among local, state, and federal agencies.
By William Paparian
As a designated National Special Security Event, the Games will require massive security operations led primarily by federal partners such as the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security. Yet amid these preparations, California possesses a unique and often overlooked resource that could strengthen state-level readiness—particularly in Pasadena, where iconic venues like the Rose Bowl Stadium and Rose Bowl Aquatics Center will host high-profile events—without compromising gubernatorial control: the California State Guard (CSG).
Unlike the California National Guard, which may be federalized under Title 10 authority, the CSG operates exclusively under the Governor’s command. This all-volunteer state defense force—rooted in California’s military tradition since the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt and formally organized in 1941—provides a flexible, cost-effective asset for civil support, infrastructure protection, and emergency augmentation. Its mission is to organize, train, equip, and deploy members in support of the California Military Department, interagency partners, and the Governor, delivering integrated staff capability and enhanced readiness while remaining outside federal activation authority.
History demonstrates the CSG’s value in high-stakes, multi-agency environments similar to those the Olympics will demand. During World War II, CSG units safeguarded critical infrastructure including the Golden Gate Bridge, harbors, refineries, and communication lines. In recent decades, the force has supported disaster response, assisting evacuations, medical triage, checkpoints, crowd management, and logistics during major earthquakes such as the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge events, floods including the 2019 Russian River incidents, and recurring wildfire seasons. Activations have also included support during the 2007–2008 fires, the 2024 Park Fire, and COVID-19 humanitarian missions distributing supplies and assisting search-and-rescue operations.
These experiences translate directly to Olympic challenges, particularly in Pasadena. The historic Rose Bowl Stadium, scheduled to host the men’s and women’s soccer semifinals and gold-medal finals, will draw enormous crowds to the Arroyo Seco, placing heavy demands on traffic control, crowd management, and emergency response. Nearby, the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center will stage diving competitions, requiring secure access control, logistical coordination, and contingency planning for heat- or water-related incidents during peak summer conditions.
Beyond Pasadena, the Games will generate complex logistical demands across Los Angeles County, major transportation hubs such as LAX, and regional ports. Seasonal hazards—wildfires during the July–August window, seismic risk, or potential civil disruptions—add further complexity.
While federal entities will lead overall security operations, the CSG can address state-level gaps with precision. In Pasadena, that could include securing utilities and key infrastructure around the Rose Bowl complex, staging rapid-response teams for evacuations or medical support, assisting with traffic and perimeter operations, distributing resources, and serving as interagency liaisons. Should elements of the National Guard face competing federal mission requirements, the CSG provides a reliable state-controlled capability to ensure continuity of operations, particularly vital for a venue anchoring the climactic soccer finals.
To maximize this potential, planning should begin now. The Governor and California Military Department could initiate CSG-specific contingency development, including joint exercises in 2026–2027 with LA28 organizers, Pasadena officials, local law enforcement, and federal partners. These exercises should focus on Rose Bowl–specific scenarios such as large-scale crowd surges, venue logistics disruptions, wildfire-adjacent emergencies in the San Gabriel foothills, and coordinated response across Pasadena’s Olympic footprint.
Targeted investments could further strengthen readiness, updating equipment, refining checkpoint and perimeter support capabilities, expanding wildfire-adjacent training, and enhancing coordination for protection of critical infrastructure and cultural assets at these historic sites. Establishing a dedicated CSG Olympics coordination element within the California Military Department would facilitate integration while preserving clear state command authority.
Thoughtfully incorporating the CSG would enhance security and resilience for 2028—ensuring Pasadena’s venues operate as safe, world-class stages—while strengthening California’s long-term emergency response framework. In an era of overlapping crises and jurisdictional complexity, leveraging this state-controlled force reflects prudent leadership: using homegrown capability to help deliver a secure, successful Olympic Games in the heart of Pasadena.
Former Pasadena Mayor William Paparian is a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and a Captain (CA) Judge Advocate with the California State Guard. The views expressed are his own and not those of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office or the California Military Department.
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