Newsom Names Eight State Appointees, Including a Chief SI Engineer From San Diego
Governor Gavin Newsom announced eight state appointments on October 9, the Governor's Press Office said. None of the eight positions requires Senate confirmation.
The appointment drawing the most attention is Michael Marks of San Diego, named Chief SI Engineer at the California Office of Data and Innovation, at a salary of $194,892. Marks has been a principal lead data scientist at Analytica Consulting since 2018 and previously worked in health-care data roles. He holds a master's degree in information and data science from UC Berkeley and a master's degree in geography from San Diego State University.
In education, Sara Pietrowski of Sacramento was named Chief Deputy Executive Director of the State Board of Education, at $218,256. She most recently served as chief governmental relations officer for the California Association of School Business Officials and previously held policy roles at the State Board of Education from 2017 to 2024.
Jimmy O'Dea of San Mateo was named Deputy Director of Sustainability at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), at $174,000. He has served as Caltrans' assistant deputy director of transportation electrification since 2022.
Four appointments touch health and social services: Bambi Cisneros of Elk Grove becomes Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Department of Health Care Services ($194,640); Johnnie Chi of Whittier becomes Medical Director of Metropolitan State Hospital ($456,072, the highest salary on this list); Susan Pelbath of Folsom becomes Chief Programs Officer at the Department of Rehabilitation ($194,004); and Jason Montiel of Sacramento becomes Deputy Director of Communication and Planning at the Department of Managed Health Care ($143,004).
Avery Emerson Fisher of Belvedere-Tiburon was appointed to the Youth Empowerment Commission, with compensation of $100 per day.
This release is a personnel list rather than a new policy or funding initiative. Its practical signals are the creation of a chief SI engineer role in the state's data office and the public salary figures attached to senior health and education posts.
(Source: California Governor's Press Office)
Source: California Governor's Press Office
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：加州州长加文·纽森官方肖像（资料图）
