Carlos has been a key technology leader in California government for over 20 years. He’s been directly involved in most of California’s significant technology initiatives. Carlos recently retired after a five-year tenure as State CIO and Director of Technology for California. As State CIO he developed and published California’s IT strategic plan and had oversight over the entire State IT portfolio. Under his leadership, California government established itself as a leader in mobile computing, the use of Geo Spatial technologies, Data analytics, Cyber Security, and in the adoption of Cloud Technologies in the public sector. In addition, Carlos lead innovative initiatives to build the capacity of the State’s IT workforce. He established the first ever statewide IT project management office, created a project management academy and partnered with the technology sector to professionalize and build the capacity of the State’s IT workforce. Additionally, Carlos helped bring California’s innovations to other states as a member of the executive committee of the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO).
Prior to becoming State CIO, Carlos headed his own technology and professional services firm. He served as an ERP advisor to a number of state agencies and was a senior fellow with the Center for Digital Government
Carlos previously served as Director of the California Office of Systems Integration – with a $4.5 billion portfolio of California’s largest technology projects. Carlos also concurrently held the position of Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services and was the Agency’s senior technology executive. He was the principal technology advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and was responsible for the entire HHS technology portfolio. Carlos helped architect the consolidation of the state’s largest data centers and the creation of California’s Department of Technology Services.
Carlos previously served as Director of the Teale Data Center – one of the largest public-sector data centers in the world with an annual budget of $200 million and over 200 government agency customers. He lead efforts to modernize the state’s data center and to establish a cooperative procurement and IT security agreements with leaders of other public sector data centers.
Before heading up the Teale Data Center, Carlos served as CIO for California’s Department of Social Services managing a large computing infrastructure and a statewide data communications network and interacting with California’s 58 counties in the delivery of human services programs and benefits.
During his state career, Carlos was directly involved in many of the largest enterprise IT initiatives that the State has undertaken including:
Establishment of the State’s Office of System Integration (OSI)
Establishment of the Office of Professional Development (OPD)
Development of the California Project Management Office (CA-PMO)
Development and implementation of the State’s automated child support system
The development and implementation of California’s first Statewide financial management system (FI$Cal)
Consolidation of the Teale and Health and Human Services Data Centers
Consolidation of IT operations from line departments to the data centers (server aggregation, co-location and centralization of IT services)
Development of a new IT project oversight model
Development of a new IT governance model
The reform of IT procurement
Development of enterprise IT security operations and oversight models
Development of a multi-data center collaborative which developed strategies for a number of critical IT issues (e.g. operational recovery, information security, mutual aid in succession planning and staff development, software procurement…etc.)
Reform of the IT project approval and funding models.
Establishment of the CA.GOV state internet portal
Carlos has held many leadership commissions including:
Chair – California Broadband Council
Co-Chair – California Cyber Security Task Force
Chair – State of California IT Strategic Plan Committee
Chair – State of California SOA Governance Workgroup
Executive Member – California Information Technology Council
Member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of State CIOs
Member – Governor’s E-Government Policy Advisory Group
Senior Fellow – Center for Digital Government
Chair – Data Center Directors Policy Council
Chair – Government Technology Conference
Chair – the California IT Executive Institute
Executive Sponsor – California IT Leadership Academy
