Member Briefing Alert: Senior Counselor to the Governor Amy Tong

Later this month, Senior Counselor to the Governor Amy Tong will brief Industry Insider members on the state’s ongoing efforts to become more efficient, responsive and collaborative.

Tong’s comments are expected to include how programs like the Request for Innovative Ideas (RFI²), the Governor’s Innovation Fellows Program, and Engaged California will guide the state’s path forward in the next year and a half.

For the uninitiated, RFI² is the innovative procurement methodology that uses proofs of concept and vendor collaboration to buy tools that address specific needs. This streamlined procurement process dates back to 2019, when the state awarded its first two contracts managed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

The Governor’s Innovation Fellows Program, meanwhile, was established in August 2025 as a vehicle to offer a select group of state employees the opportunity to streamline government operations. That program includes 21 state employees from nine agencies and 15 departments.

Tong has been a central figure in California’s IT evolution. She served as the state’s chief information officer and director of the Office of Data and Innovation before being tapped to lead the Government Operations Agency (GovOps). In the governor's cabinet, Tong oversaw more than 22,000 state employees and an annual budget of about $67 billion.

In March 2025, Tong was appointed as senior counselor to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a role that shifted her focus from the day-to-day IT operations and policy implementation to a more strategic role plugged directly into the governor’s office.

While there are only about 15 months left of the governor’s term, high-level state officials such as Tong, Office of Data and Innovation Director Jeffery Marino and state CIO Liana Bailey-Crimmins, have all said separately that these efforts will continue at full steam until a new administration is sworn in.

The briefing will take place at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento Sept. 22. Insider members are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Questions about registration and the event can be directed to Audrey Houser.