Scott Paterson, whose most recent role is as deputy director of CDT's Office of Professional Development, will retire next month after 33 years in state government. Paterson began his state career as a corrections officer for the state prison system, and his most recent assignments have been in senior leadership, executive or advisory capacities. Among his responsibilities is overseeing the department's four professional development academies — IT Leadership, Project Management, Digital Innovation and Information Security.
Paterson will be succeeded by Brenda Bridges Cruz, who most recently has served as deputy director and deputy chief information officer for Covered California.
Bridges Cruz "will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from more than 20 years of private and public sector IT experience," CDT said in a statement issued by Alice Scott-Rowe, deputy director of communications for CDT. "Prior to joining Covered California, Bridges Cruz worked for the Employment Development Department and CalPERS. As a private sector IT consultant, she gained extensive experience with the state, which translated well into her state service. She has been an integral part of CDT’s Information Technology Leadership Academy (ITLA) for the past three years, serving in the roles of class manager, adviser and sponsor. Bridges Cruz will begin her new position June 24."
The director of CDT, state CIO Amy Tong, said Paterson has been a long and invaluable leader, mentor and member of CDT’s executive team.
"Over his more than three decades of service, Scott has developed an incredible institutional knowledge and it has been my pleasure to work with him,” Tong said in a statement to Techwire. “While we will miss Scott, we all wish him health and happiness in his retirement.”
Paterson began his state career in 1987 as a correctional officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In addition to CDT, Paterson has worked for the Department of Health Care Services and the Department of Public Health. While with CDT, he also served as deputy director of the Office of Information Security.
Paterson's retirement in July is the third senior leadership position to open up within CDT in recent weeks.
CDT's former chief deputy director and state deputy CIO, Chris Cruz, left state service at the end of May to take the position of chief information officer for San Joaquin County.
And Peter Liebert, the chief information security officer and director of the Office of Information Security within CDT, left state service the week of May 27.
