Alan L. Barrett

Barrett takes a no-nonsense approach to business and places great value on trust, hard work and team spirit. His goals include building and strengthening the channels of communication. With more than 10 years of casino management experience, Barrett understands the value of hard work and effective communication.

Barrett began his career as the internal compliance officer of Viejas Valley Casino, which operated briefly in 1990. Immediately following, the Viejas Tribe launched Viejas Casino & Turf Club in 1991 (now Viejas Casino) where Barrett served as an internal control officer and Pai Gow manager. In 1993, Barrett became the director of surveillance, developing one of the most sophisticated surveillance systems operating in a tribal government casino. In 1998, Barrett transferred with the surveillance department to its current placement under the Tribal Gaming Commission. He left that position in 2000 to assume another position on the tribal council.

Serving as legislative liaison at the local, state and federal levels, Barrett has built strong political relationships and taken leadership roles in developing federal legislation, benefiting tribal governments and neighboring communities. One example is the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004, an amendment to the President’s Healthy Forest Act. Barrett testified and successfully advocated for tribal governments to be included as partners in the federal legislation, which provides for fuel clearance on federal and tribal lands to reduce the danger of wildfires, such as San Diego County’s deadly Cedar Fire of 2004.

At a local level, Barrett served two terms on the San Diego County Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee, where he was elected vice-chairman with County Supervisor Dianne Jacob serving as chair. He was also appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the important Water Quality Control Board San Diego Region, a historic first for San Diego County Indians. Barrett participates on the San Diego County District Attorney’s Community Advisory Board and launched government-to-government meetings with the DA’s office, the Sheriff’s department and tribal leaders throughout San Diego County.

Barrett graduated from Sherman Indian High School in 1974. Later that year, he joined the California Department of Forestry as a firefighter and worked as a firefighter for the Alpine Fire Department from 1976 to 1979.

In his spare time, Barrett enjoys camping in local deserts and along the Colorado River, as well as bow hunting in Minnesota, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. Barrett and his family live on the Viejas Reservation.