One of the Bay Area’s longest-serving IT leaders will step down at month’s end.
Jon Gjestvang, chief information officer for Napa County, will retire Feb. 28 after heading up its IT unit for more than two decades.
Greg Bown, the county’s current deputy CIO and chief information security officer, will step in as interim CIO effective March 1, Napa County public information officer Linda Weinreich confirmed to Government Technology*. The county has not yet initiated a search for Gjestvang’s permanent replacement.
During his time with Napa County, Gjestvang led efforts to modernize outdated systems, helped rebuild critical infrastructure after devastating wildfires, and guided the county’s shift to remote technology access during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also guided efforts to strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and ensure uninterrupted service delivery during crises. Gjestvang’s tenure as CIO began in February 2002, according to his LinkedIn profile.
During the Jan. 28 Napa County Board of Supervisors meeting, Gjestvang reflected on his decision to step away, admitting that retirement was a more emotional transition than anticipated.
“It’s a difficult decision to retire. I’ve been here many years and I’ve seen others go through this dilemma of retiring, and I couldn’t understand why,” Gjestvang said during the meeting. “It’s like, you’re retiring — go, have fun, do it. And now I understand why. For me, it’s really all the exciting projects and initiatives that we are currently doing for departments with technology and the future ones that are coming up. ... It’s going to be hard not being part of that.”
Gjestvang joined Napa County from Golden Gate Technologies, having previously served in a managerial role at Tandem Computers Inc. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from California State University, Chico.
The CIO credited his success to his staff’s unwavering dedication and commitment to their work, after being honored with an official proclamation from the Board of Supervisors during their meeting.
A portion of the written document reads: “Jon’s dedication, innovation, and leadership have left an indelible mark on Napa County, elevating its technological capabilities and setting a standard of excellence in public service.”
As Gjestvang prepares for retirement, he said he’s eager to enjoy more time with his family — but admitted leaving his work family behind won’t be easy.
“It’s been a privilege and honor to serve the county for over 22 years,” he said during the meeting.
*This article first appeared in Government Technology, sister publication to Industry Insider — California.
Long-Serving Napa County CIO Gjestvang Retiring This Month
Jon Gjestvang, who led IT for the Bay Area county through wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, will wrap his 23-year career as chief information officer at the end of February. The organization’s deputy CIO will take over as interim CIO.
