Cruz Named California Deputy State CIO

California Department of Technology (CDT) chief deputy director of operations Chris Cruz has added the title of "deputy state CIO" as part of a proposed reorganization of the department announced Wednesday.

California Department of Technology (CDT) chief deputy director of operations Chris Cruz has added the title of "deputy state CIO" as part of a proposed reorganization of the department announced Tuesday.

Cruz's role is expanding further as CDT consolidates from two chief deputy directors to only one. 

Cruz was appointed the No. 2 executive at the Department of Technology in May 2015. In the changes announced Tuesday, Cruz is now the sworn deputy state CIO of California, according to a source. He previously was CIO at the Department of Health Care Services since 2011.

Cruz has worked for the state government for more than a decade after beginning his career in the private sector as a project manager and consultant. He was CIO at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (2007-10) and an IT manager at the Department of Health Services (2004-07).

Cruz is an alumnus of California State University, Sacramento, and resides in El Dorado Hills.

Matt Williams was Managing Editor of Techwire from June 2014 through May 2017.