Caltrans Names Permanent Data and AI Chief in Vidhu Shekhar

The California Department of Transportation has selected its new chief data and artificial intelligence officer in Vidhu Shekhar, a technologist with a resume that includes time at Microsoft, KPMG and Workday. He officially begins the new role Jan. 30.

Most recently, Shekhar served as the Americas Lead on the Global Partnerships Team with Microsoft, where he’s held several other strategy and leadership roles dating back to 2022.

Before joining Microsoft, Shekhar held management roles with organizations including Workday and KPMG U.S. He also lists time in the public sector that includes the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s High-Technology Crime Division and Los Angeles World Airports’ finance and budget division.

With Caltrans, Shekhar will be focused on advancing the department’s data and AI strategy, which centers on the ethical use of the rapidly advancing technology. The department was one of the state’s earliest adopters of AI technology — along with three others — as part of a May 2024 proof-of-concept program focused on identifying real-world use cases.

The role he occupies was left vacant with the retirement of acting CDAO Dara Wheeler in late December 2025. Wheeler was the first to hold the role and was instrumental in laying the foundation for the department’s future work, Caltrans CIO Marcie Kahbody told Industry Insider — California earlier this month.

According to an email circulated by the department and provided to Insider, Shekhar is “a nationally recognized and award-winning leader in government strategy, digital transformation and AI innovation” who “brings excellent insight into emerging technologies, infrastructure and policy in both public and private sectors.”

“As the author of Generative Artificial Intelligence Use Cases in State & Local Government and an active advisor to institutions like the University of Southern California (USC), University of Washington (UW) and the National Academy of Sciences, Vidhu is a trusted voice on the responsible adoption of AI and emerging technologies,” the email continued.

He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from USC and served as a senior executive fellow for Harvard University between October 2024 and November 2025.