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“I’ve always been a transformationalist and innovator,” Cruz said. “I’m very excited about this new role.”
In a LinkedIn post, he wrote: “After nearly four outstanding years at Tanium, I have made the hard but heart-felt decision to take on a new opportunity that will allow me to continue to serve our government constituents. I unequivocally enjoyed my time working for the company, implementing its vision and mission and serving as a CIO ambassador in a worldwide government role for Tanium Public Sector. I take great pride in contributing to the success of the company growth and to its maturity level in the government sector.”
Before joining Tanium, Cruz had spent 31 years working in government, having held C-suite positions in the California Department of Public Health, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Department of Health Care Services and, finally, at the California Department of Technology, where he served as deputy state CIO and chief deputy director of the department. After leaving CDT, he served as San Joaquin County’s CIO for two years before joining Tanium.
In his role as deputy state CIO, Cruz was the catalyst for a multimillion-dollar agreement to offer CDT’s data center services for the city of Los Angeles. That agreement stemmed from Cruz’s relationship with L.A. CIO Ted Ross.
Looking ahead, Cruz told Industry Insider that his experience in government and in the private sector gives him the insight into both sides of the procurement process.
“I’m now on the other side of the fence. I bridge those gaps,” he said. “I know how vendors engage with government … and now I can help educate government about price points and getting a cost-effective rate.”
TabordaENS is a key vendor to California state government, providing software and IT services and other solutions across a range of fields and disciplines, including networking, security and cloud.
Cruz, who grew up in Folsom and still lives there, said his new position will allow him to travel less than he’s done for the last three-plus years and get more involved in the community.
“Going back to your roots is always good,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to more involvement with mentoring and philanthropy.
Cruz received the 2015 Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers award from Government Technology*; the 2013 Best of California Demonstrated Leadership in Management of IT Award; the 2011 Outstanding CIO Leader Award; the 2010 Innovation and Vision Award; and the Center for Digital Government’s* 2009 Outstanding CIO Leader of the Year Award. He was also named to the 2023 Forbes Top CIO Next List.
“I’m a passionate public servant,” Cruz said. “I left government better than I found it.”
*Government Technology and the Center for Digital Government are part of e.Republic, parent of Industry Insider — California.
