“I actually grew up in San Francisco and have always lived either in the city or somewhere between San Francisco and Sacramento,” Mall said in a recent interview with Industry Insider — California. “So I decided to make a move back. I was looking for something that aligned with my passion for public service while staying in information technology. I think I’ve found a perfect match here at San Francisco Fire.”
Mall noted key differences between state government and San Francisco’s consolidated city-county government, particularly in terminology and governance practices.
“The policies and governing structures are similar, but the language is different,” he explained. “So I’m working to familiarize myself to ensure I add maximum value.”
At CalVet, Mall oversaw a 275+ person Administrative Services team (100+ in IT) spread across multiple locations. At San Francisco Fire, his team consists of 14 members, including himself. While this presents opportunities for agility and flexibility, it also brings staffing challenges.
“For an IT shop supporting the operations we cover, we’re significantly understaffed,” Mall said. “The team is highly skilled, but in some cases, there’s no backup. If someone retires or is unexpectedly out, there may be no one to cover that function.”
At the same time, he said, a smaller IT team fosters versatility.
“People are not overly specialized, which is a good thing. There’s a lot of flexibility,” he added.
Mall stepped into his role with several critical projects already in motion. One of his top priorities is modernizing SFFD’s network infrastructure, in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Technology. The project involves upgrading the network connecting all 44 fire stations within the city and county of San Francisco, which are organized into two divisions and nine battalions. Additionally, the SFFD manages three fire stations at San Francisco International Airport in San Mateo County, which fall under the Airport Division. This division is responsible for fire protection, emergency medical services, hazardous-materials abatement, and other safety measures at SFO.
“Station 29 will be the first to receive upgraded circuits and network,” Mall said. “We determined that last week, and once the fiber is laid and connectivity is in place, we’ll deploy the critical infrastructure to bring that site live, likely in the next month or two. Over the next couple of years, we’ll upgrade every station across the city and airport.”
Another major initiative is the replacement of San Francisco’s aging computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, in collaboration with the Department of Emergency Management. “We’re at the groundbreaking phase,” Mall noted. “I attended an organizational change management meeting on my first day and was thrilled to see the work underway. The project is being led by Motorola, a vendor with deep expertise in public safety technology.”
Mall’s transition to SFFD is not just a professional move—it’s also a return to his roots. However, he acknowledges that he will deeply miss serving California’s veterans.
“The work I did at CalVet instilled in me a deep sense of purpose,” he said. “Serving veterans and their families — people who have sacrificed everything for our country — was profoundly meaningful. That sense of purpose will always stay with me.”
Despite his departure, Mall believes CalVet’s IT leadership remains strong. After his promotion to deputy secretary, Carlos Chavez was elevated to CIO.
“I know CalVet is in good hands,” Mall said. “With Secretary Lindsey Sin and Undersecretary Keith Boylan at the helm, I have every confidence in the department’s future.”
Reflecting on his journey, Mall described his move to San Francisco Fire as both a professional and personal milestone.
“I feel like I left home to come home.”
*The California Public Sector CIO Academy is presented by e.Republic, parent of Industry Insider — California.
