California Department of Motor Vehicles

Rico Rubiono, chief information officer for the California Department of Motor Vehicles and deputy director of its Information Services Division, discusses the department's ongoing tech modernization, how his role has changed, his favorite projects and how procurement might be improved.

By managing change and carefully updating long-standing processes under new Director Steve Gordon, the Department of Motor Vehicles is taking strides toward modernization — while achieving technological milestones that have helped it connect to residents during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic gives the California Department of Vehicles’ ongoing technological modernization a new sense of urgency, its new Digital Transformation Officer Ajay Gupta told Techwire, and the agency continues to streamline processes and offer new services online.

The Blockchain Working Group altered timelines for two recent meetings in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The group will hear from tech officials at two major state agencies next week and consider a definition for the electronic ledger technology.

During the premiere DMV Vendor Day, agency officials discussed with vendors how they hope to make the department more technologically modern and responsive to residents, less than a year before the federal Real ID deadline.

Mindful of modernization's potential pitfalls, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state is trying to "go small and build on successes" as it updates technology, initiates culture change and brings in new executive staff at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

In remarks announcing the release of a report on the Department of Motor Vehicles by the state Strike Team, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced DMV's new director and chief deputy director and said the agency will shortly begin piloting the ability to accept credit card payments.