Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Liana Bailey-Crimmins Director of the California Department of Technology and State Chief Information Officer, the Governor’s Office announced. 

Bailey-Crimmins had been serving as the State Chief Technology Officer since 2021, following a two-year stint as the Chief Information Security Officer at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. 

Her 34-year career with the state began with an internship and has spanned eight different departments, including prior information technology roles with California Correctional Health Care Services. 

The new role requires Senate confirmation and includes a $206,797 annual salary for Bailey-Crimmins, who is registered without party preference. 

Russ Nichols, who has been CDT’s acting director and State CIO since the departure of former director Amy Tong to GovOps, will continue with the department as deputy state CIO and chief deputy director of CDT.

Back in 2021, Bailey-Crimmins provided testimony when she was confirmed by the Senate as the State Chief Technology Officer. 

In that confirmation, she shared crucial insights on technology-related issues including the belief that an iterative approach is the best way to carry out large-scale IT projects.

“We believe that by putting these things in modules, we are delivering good functionality to our constituents and to our business partners. It shows. . .that we’re building upon our successes,” Bailey-Crimmins said. 

Above all else, Bailey-Crimmins has maintained the perspective that the overarching goal of her job and all of tech is to serve the community.

“I believe walking a mile in our customers’ shoes is extremely important. . .not just focusing on the technology, but actually walking out into every single institution.”

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