MEET LUCAS

Portrait of a young man in a U.S. military dress uniform, standing next to an American flag.
A young boy dressed in traditional Mexican attire, wearing a large decorative sombrero with gold accents, a white shirt, a green tie, and a black vest with white embroidery.

Grounded in Family and Community

Lucas Pinon is a husband, father, veteran, and public servant who has delivered results for veterans, seniors, and families throughout the Coachella Valley.

Born into a Blythe family of farmworkers and activists, Lucas was influenced by his family’s strong foundation for public service. He was raised in Palm Desert by a single mom who was an educator and a member of the teachers’ union for decades.

Lucas was also heavily influenced by his maternal grandfather, Alfredo Figueroa. A legendary civil rights leader, Figueroa organized for Cesar Chavez and fought alongside conservationists to protect sacred cultural Indigenous sites.

Three soldiers in uniform sitting against a brick wall, wearing sunglasses and helmets, with one helmet on the ground in front of them.

Service, Sacrifice, and Duty to Community

Drawn to community service and public safety, Lucas took classes at the College of the Desert Public Safety Academy before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Lucas became a team leader and led with discipline, humility, and the compassion he learned from his upbringing. While in the military, Lucas was based out of Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, where he served as the emergency coordinator conducting military police operations. During his service, he was deployed to Afghanistan to provide security for pilots and drone operators at Kandahar Airfield.

After returning to the states, Lucas found himself seeking more opportunities to help veterans after a close friend and fellow veteran took his own life. During his return to College of the Desert, he began interning with Congressman Raul Ruiz’s office to focus on veteran issues. Specifically, doing research on the effects of toxic burn pits and supporting veteran initiatives in the Coachella Valley. This internship was part of Congressman Ruiz’s years-long effort to pass legislation to provide healthcare benefits for those with toxic exposures.

A soldier in camouflage uniform holding hands with two young boys wearing backpacks outside a building, with other children and adults in the background.
Group of four people standing in front of a tent with 'CONGRESSMAN RAUL RUIZ, M.D.' written on it. A woman in the center is holding a certificate titled 'PEACE FROM CHAOS,' and a young girl is standing in front wearing a hat and smiling. The background shows other people and tents at an outdoor event on a sunny day.
A man in a dark suit and sunglasses speaking at a podium with a microphone, under a blue and green umbrella. A plaque on the podium reads Lawrence Ogle Foster Memorial, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.

Delivering Results for Families in the Coachella Valley

Lucas continued his studies at UCLA and worked at the campus Veteran Resource Center, where he supported and strengthened veteran enrollment and engagement. Additionally, before earning his degree in history, Lucas also interned for the United Teachers of Los Angeles, where he organized during the teachers’ union negotiations with the LA Unified School District.

Upon graduation, Lucas felt a higher calling to service and went back to work for Congressman Ruiz’s office as a Field Representative, focusing on labor, public safety and military affairs issues. He also engaged in casework, helping veterans mark their claims congressional, ensuring their claims were processed. Today, Lucas has extensive experience in resolving issues and helping seniors, veterans, and families get the health and financial benefits they have earned and deserve. He has championed mental health issues in the veteran and civilian communities and was part of the intense push to finally pass the PACT Act into law in 2022. This historical legislation has changed the lives of thousands of veterans in the Coachella Valley and throughout the nation.

Lucas now serves as Director of Special Projects for the Congressman and lives in Palm Desert with his wife, Gloria, and their two children.

A family of four posing outdoors in front of a green hedge. The father is holding a young girl, and the mother is holding a young boy. The father has dark hair and a beard, wearing a navy suit and light blue shirt. The girl has long brown hair tied back, wearing a pink dress, and is smiling. The mother has long brown hair, wearing a brown dress, and is smiling. The boy has short brown hair, wearing a light-colored shirt with embroidery and black pants, looking serious.