CARLSBAD UNIFIED CONNECTIONS

Carlsbad Unified takes great pride in the many CUSD employees who have served our country in the military. Two of these outstanding veterans are Roger Casanova and Bryan Hughes, both Campus Security Assistants who serve as daily role models for our students.

Roger Casanova — Carlsbad High School

The bell has rung at Carlsbad High School, and students are heading to their next classes. As they pass Campus Security Assistant Roger Casanova, many greet him with a secret handshake, a fist bump, or a cheerful “Hey, Roger—what’s up?”

Mr. Casanova has worked for CUSD for 11 years. “I love this job—it’s amazing,” he says. “I make sure kids stay in class, but if someone’s having a bad day, I’ll pull them aside and let them take a breather. I give them a pep talk and remind them they can’t change yesterday, but they can refocus positively. I always keep it professional, but I want them to know there’s someone here for them—someone to talk with, someone who offers respect and structure. And everyone knows my whistle.”

At 21 years old, Mr. Casanova enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He completed boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and then served four years in the infantry at Camp Pendleton. He was later stationed at the El Toro Marine Base, traveling extensively across Asia and the Middle East, before taking on recruiting duty in Texas.

“I grew up in San Antonio, so I was happy to be close to home,” he says. “I loved recruiting work—I got to mentor young people interested in enlisting. I’m a people person who likes to protect others. My service made me who I am. It’s a calling. You give up some freedom, but you know you’re doing it for the greater good.”

Mr. Casanova and his wife have been married for 27 years. They knew each other for only two months, mostly long-distance, before they were wed. They’re now proud empty nesters with two children—one living in Houston, and one a first-generation college graduate with a geology degree from Humboldt State University.

When he’s not working (he also holds a nighttime security job), Mr. Casanova enjoys relaxing with video games on his PS5—especially Call of Duty.

Bryan Hughes — Valley Middle School

It’s lunchtime at Valley Middle School, and Bryan Hughes keeps a watchful eye on the crowd while chatting with a table of students. Retired from the military, Mr. Hughes now works part-time—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.—as a Campus Security Assistant. “These kids are great,” he says. “Working with them makes me feel young again. I’ve always loved working with kids, even back when I coached Encinitas Little League.”

Mr. Hughes served five years of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, working primarily in logistics and supply. “We were in charge of the store—providing ammo and whatever materials the infantry needed,” he explains. His assignment took him throughout Asia, including Japan and South Korea.

He also served in the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard for a total of twenty years of duty, gaining extensive training and leadership experience. Military service runs deep in his family—his grandfather and father were both in the Navy, and several cousins also served. Growing up as the son of a career serviceman, Mr. Hughes moved frequently, spending much of his youth in Maryland and Virginia.

That tradition continues with his own children. His son is a Marine Aviation Maintenance Officer in Yuma, Arizona, working on F-35 aircraft in coordination with Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce. His daughter is studying nursing at MiraCosta College and hopes to join the Navy after completing her degree.

“Military service and love of country—it’s a tradition in our family,” Mr. Hughes says. “The discipline, camaraderie, team spirit, and the way everyone looks out for each other—those are the values I carry with me.”

In his free time, Mr. Hughes enjoys surfing at D Street and Swami’s in Encinitas, flying small planes out of Palomar Airport as he works toward his pilot’s license, and training for the Oceanside Ironman 70.3, which includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a half-marathon.

Carlsbad Unified thanks Mr. Casanova, Mr. Hughes, and all of our employees who are veterans, for their dedication, service, and sacrifice to our country.