Carla Simmons, chief information officer at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and firm believer in interagency collaboration, has retired, agency Public Information Officer Robb Mayberry said Monday. Simmons’ last day was Friday.
A nearly 14-year state employee, Simmons’ tenure began in January 2006 when she joined the California Office of Spill Prevention and Response, the state’s lead agency on oil spills in inland and marine waters, as a project manager/programmer. Simmons served as applications services group manager at the California Highway Patrol from September 2008 to March 2013, at which time she joined CalOES as CIO.
A job search is in early stages and it’s not yet clear whether it will be a national search. Asked whether a deputy might step into the CIO role on an interim basis, Mayberry said that’s “to be determined.”
“We will be actively seeking to replace her in that position," he said. "It’s a critical role in our organization, and we want to make sure we get that filled as soon as possible.”