California Names Senior Policy Adviser as Its Next CDO

John Ohanian, a public servant and technologist with a deep background in the data space, has been tapped by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as the statewide chief data officer.
The new CDO comes to the Office of Data and Innovation from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), where he has been serving as the senior policy adviser for data exchange.

Before joining DHCS, Ohanian was the chief data officer for the California Health and Human Services Agency’s Center for Data Insights and Innovation for more for than five years.

Ohanian’s resume also includes time as the president and CEO of 211 San Diego and the Community Information Exchange, as well as roles with Strategic Organizational Solutions, Jewish Community Foundation San Diego and KPMG.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and business management from the University of San Diego.

This position does not require Senate confirmation.

This story first appeared in Industry Insider — California, part of e.Republic, Government Technology’s parent company.