Blaine Wasylkiw is now California’s deputy chief technology innovation officer, the California Department of Technology (CDT) confirmed to Industry Insider — California. His first day as deputy CTIO was Feb. 13; he’ll work with state CTIO Jonathan Porat, who was appointed in December and was previously the city of Seattle’s first technology client engagement manager.
“I’m very proud to share that I have officially stepped into the State Deputy Chief Technology Innovation Officer role within the California Department of Technology,” Wasylkiw said Wednesday on LinkedIn. “So much impactful work underway within our Office of Digital Services, with even more to come. … Onward!”
Wasylkiw joined CDT in November 2020 as chief web officer, a position he held until being affirmed as deputy CTIO — though since June, he had concurrently held the position of acting deputy CTIO. He spent nearly nine years at the California Dental Association, directing its e-commerce platforms and serving as director of technical solutions from October 2018-May 2020 before joining CDT later that year. Among his private-sector work prior to joining the CDA, Wasylkiw was director of digital media for The Sacramento Bee from September 2006-May 2011.
As chief web officer, Wasylkiw built the team that developed and supported solutions including the California COVID-19 Digital Vaccine Record, the CAWeb Publishing Service, the California Design System, the State of California Web Template and the ca.gov portal, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also spearheaded research and evaluation of online and digital platform-related technologies; did outreach and collaboration with the state’s digital and web communities on issues impacting the state; and served as liaison between development staff and stakeholders including the California Government Operations Agency, the governor’s office and CDT’s executive team.
Wasylkiw was one of two employees who received a 2022 Ovation Award in December, for leadership. In September, he co-accepted a “Best of California” award for Best IT Collaboration at the California Digital Government Summit*, which was presented to CDT and to the Office of Data and Innovation for their work on the California Design System. In March 2021, as a project contributor at CDT, Wasylkiw was part of a team that received a CIO Academy Award at the California Virtual Public Sector CIO Academy* for its work on online tools that enabled residents to protect themselves and learn remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
*The California Digital Government Summit and the California Public Sector CIO Academy are hosted by Government Technology magazine, a publication of e.Republic, which also produces Industry Insider — California.
