Councilman Vasquez began his professional journey with the Pechanga Band of Indians in 2004 as an instructional aide at the Pechanga School. In 2005, he transitioned into cultural preservation work as a cultural monitor within the Pechanga Cultural Resources Department. In this role, he actively contributed to the protection and revitalization of Pechanga’s sacred sites, traditional practices, and ancestral lands. as well as volunteering for cultural activities and helping with feeds for the community events and holidays.

In 2011, Vasquez was elected to the Pechanga Cultural Committee, where he served until 2016.
His work on the committee centered around strengthening Pechanga identity, ensuring cultural representation in key tribal initiatives, and protection of cultural resources, on new developments within the traditional territory. intergenerational knowledge transfer.

Furthering his dedication to community infrastructure and resource management, he was elected in 2013 to the Pechanga Water Systems Board. There, he helped oversee critical operations and improvements to water systems vital to the health and sovereignty of the community.

In 2016, Vasquez was elected to the Pechanga Tribal Council. Since then, he has played a key role in strengthening interdepartmental coordination, policy development, and strategic planning within tribal government. He has taken a lead role in tribal gaming policy, infrastructure development, and utility expansion. He currently serves as a commissioner for Pechanga Western Electric (PWE), California’s only tribal-owned electric utility, helping drive tribal self-sufficiency in the energy sector.

In 2022, Vasquez was elected to the executive board of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), where he represents the Central District. In this statewide leadership role, he advocates for tribal sovereignty and the economic power of tribal gaming, while fostering alliances with tribal and state leaders.

Councilman Vasquez is committed to expanding tribal control, protecting sovereignty, and advocating for tribal jurisdictional authority. His policy interests include cultural preservation, renewable energy, economic development, and philanthropic partnerships that benefit Indian Country.

He has been proudly married to his wife, Lesa, since 2006, and together they are the devoted parents of three daughters: Huyana, Tenaya, and Haleya.