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GovTech Innovators: Robert Schmidt, Agency Information Officer for the California Department of Food and Agriculture

The California Department of Food and Agriculture tracks animal health and disease across the state to help authorities safeguard residents and the environment.

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Our latest GovTech Innovator is Robert Schmidt, Agency Information Officer and Technology Director at the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Schmidt's department develops interesting projects that simplify operations for their administration and provide information to citizens and other government jurisdictions.

Last year, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers nominated his department in the Data, Information, and Knowledge Management category for its work in the surveillance of animal diseases. The department’s impressive system to track animal health and disease across the state helps the authorities keep the people and the environment safe.

Robert spoke with us about how his department is a line of defense between Californians and disease, and the projects it has in the works.



Noelle Knell is the executive editor for e.Republic, responsible for setting the overall direction for e.Republic’s editorial platforms, including Government Technology, Governing, Industry Insider, Emergency Management and the Center for Digital Education. She has been with e.Republic since 2011, and has decades of writing, editing and leadership experience. A California native, Noelle has worked in both state and local government, and is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with majors in political science and American history.