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“Mr. Gray’s innovative efforts have greatly improved our city services and public safety infrastructure,” said City Manager Justin Hess. “We deeply appreciate his dedication and positive impact on our community.”
In his new role, Gray will oversee technology for Metrolink, which is operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA). The joint-powers authority serves Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and North counties and its 11 board members represent the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve Burbank. It has been a privilege to work alongside dedicated city staff and our wonderful community,” Gray said in the statement. “Together, we’ve made significant strides in enhancing city services and improving efficiency. Saying goodbye to something we’ve built together, shaping the IT department into the world-class technology organization it is today, is incredibly difficult. I am profoundly thankful to the city manager, assistant city manager, and the entire city for their support in allowing me to bring our visions to life and elevate our city services through modernized technology. I am proud of our progress and thankful for the support from everyone involved.”
In his new role as Metrolink’s CTO, Gray succeeds Elisa Evans Cunningham, who since February has been CTO for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
In addition to his new Metrolink role, Gray announced this week that he has become a founding member of CXO/50, an invitation-only organization “that will support C-level technology executives in establishing deeper and more authentic personal and professional relationships through highly curated and unique dinners and events.” The organization’s mission “is to facilitate the development of meaningful relationships that bolster both your personal and professional journeys.”
Before taking the Burbank CIO job in 2018, Gray had a deep background in the private sector, holding a series of tech leadership roles in the entertainment industry. His resume includes having served as Unix system administrator for Orion Pictures; manager of data center operations for Dreamworks SKG; head of data center operations and systems administration for DreamWorks Animation; vice president of IT infrastructure for Paramount Pictures; and vice president of global media and IT infrastructure for Viacom.
Gray attended the University of Southern California, where he studied liberal arts and sciences, and he received his Bachelor of Science in information systems from California State University, Long Beach.
The Glendale resident serves as a chapter president for the Municipal Information Systems Association of California (MISAC) and does extensive mentoring and volunteer work, focusing on youth academics and sports.
Gray was featured in an Industry Insider — California One-on-One interview in June 2023.
