CDPH Technology Officer Appointed to Lead as CIO

The California Department of Public Health has picked a familiar face to lead its IT operations.

Tony Tran, the newly former chief technology officer, has been elevated to the position of CIO. He replaces outgoing CIO John Roussel.

Tran had been serving as CTO since 2022, while Roussel had held the CIO spot since June 2021.

In November 2024, Roussel and Tran shared the department’s outlook during a member briefing, where Tran highlighted some of the challenges facing vendor partners and the longer-term fixes the leaders are putting in motion.

“We had to build all these siloed applications because we cannot share [costs] between the 24, 25 different centers,” Tran said. “So that is the most challenging thing working at CDPH. However, the Future of Public Health is changing that.”

During that conversation, the technologists highlighted five key priorities: a move toward more centralized IT, a new governance framework, assessment of existing technology platforms, an interest in the appropriate use of AI, and opportunities guided by the Future of Public Health initiative.

Roussel said during an interview ahead of his retirement that he’d like to see the department reclaim some of its independence from vendors when it comes to the more traditional, long-haul application developments.

Tran holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and Asian studies from California State University, Sacramento.