Newsom Names New GovOps Undersecretary in Russell Fong

Gov. Gavin Newsom has named a new undersecretary for the Government Operations Agency (GovOps) in longtime state employee Russell Fong.

Fong’s state service includes experience across several departments dating back to the California Department of Technology in 2000.

Most recently, Fong served as the chief deputy director with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research between 2023 and 2024. Before that, Fong held numerous roles at the California State Controller’s Office between 2020 and 2023.

He has also held leadership positions with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, California High-Speed Rail Authority and the California Public Employees' Retirement System.

The undersecretary role at GovOps has seen many changes; Fong will be the fourth to fill the seat since 2022:

• Miriam Ingenito served as undersecretary from 2022-24.
• Sarah Soto-Taylor served from 2024-25.
• Christine Harada served for half a year ending in March.

Fong holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position is not contingent on Senate confirmation.