March 25, 2021 – The California CIO Public Sector Academy Awards added a new twist this year—a Hall of Fame category.
Between 2020 and early 2021, the California government technology scene saw many changes. It witnessed the tremendous role technology played to slow the spread of the pandemic. It also saw the retirements of several veteran, government tech leaders. At the March 25 virtual CIO Academy awards ceremony, three of them were inducted into the CIO Academy Hall of Fame.
Ellen Ishimoto
Ellen Ishimoto’s career spanned 36 years—all in state government. She spent thirty of those years in the IT field, including seven years as CIO for the California State Lottery. She held various leadership roles at the Department of Transportation and the Teale Data Center, as well as serving as chair of the State of California Enterprise Architecture Committee.
Following Richard Roger’s appointment to deputy state CIO, Ellen stepped in to fill the role of acting state chief technology officer and acting deputy director for the Office of Technology, where she served for nearly two years until retiring at the end of 2020. Like Rogers, she works as a retired annuitant at CDT.
Andrew Armani
Andrew Armani retired in mid-2020 after 30 years of technology innovation. His accomplishments set a high bar for government technology—one that will be tough to match. He was instrumental in the creation of the Information Technology Executive Council (ITEC), the governing body used today. The CIO Academy was his brainchild and a good example of his innovative thinking. His last position was Agency Information Officer for not one but two large state entities—Government Operations Agency and Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
Today, Andrew is a founder and partner in Sacramento-based AnSuTech Consulting.
Richard Rogers
Many consider Richard Rogers to be a pioneer after he followed his father and two brothers into state service. That was just the first step in his 35-year career. Gov. Jerry Brown’s appointment made him the state’s first-ever chief technology officer, and his final appointment by Gov. Gavin Newsom as deputy state CIO and chief deputy of CDT vaulted him to the highest office held by any Black technology leader in California.
Richard worked to educate, train and motivate future technology leaders through public speaking, participating in CDT’s academies, and in it mentoring program. He continues to be a strong proponent of workforce diversity. Retired since February 2021, he now works for CDT as a retired annuitant and remains one of the state’s best technology assets.