Rick Ornelas, DBH, MSW, is an associate professor of social work, practicum education at USC Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work. He also co-leads the Social Work and Public Safety Collaborative at USC. This program collaborates with the legal system, providing a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to serving communities through support, education, training and services. 

Ornelas is a retired sergeant from the Los Angeles School Police Department with over thirty-four years of law enforcement experience, including twenty-five years as a law enforcement educator. He teaches various courses, such as leadership training for public safety officials, crisis intervention skills, procedural justice, implicit bias, and strategies for fostering trust between law enforcement and the community. Additionally, he actively participates in the curriculum development process for each program.

Ornelas supports first responders and their families. He also has extensive experience in organizational consulting, executive coaching, staff development, and training on best practices and evidence-based interventions, coupled with his involvement in supporting organizations in reimagining public safety at the local and national levels.