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Corrections Department Names Gillespie Deputy Director for IT

“One thing that struck me, as I talk to the team and meet everyone, there are a lot of team members that have been part of CDCR for many years, which I think speaks to the level of commitment of the organization’s leadership and support for the team,” Richard Gillespie told Industry Insider — California.

Richard Gillespie, a veteran of state tech governance and the private sector, has been named deputy director for IT operations and support for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

Richard Gillespie
Richard Gillespie
Gillespie was most recently the assistant deputy director and chief technology officer for the California Department of Social Services. His previous roles in state government include having served as branch chief for Cloud, Infrastructure, and Compute and Storage Services in the California Department of Technology (CDT) and as an IT supervisor with the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, now the Department of Health Care Access and Information.

“I am really excited to join CDCR,” Gillespie told Industry Insider California. “I am excited to be joining such a dedicated and committed team, supporting the mission of CDCR. There are several exciting projects and initiatives in progress at CDCR, and I am looking forward to doing what I can to help the team deliver on those efforts.”

In the private sector before his state service began, Gillespie held engineering and supervisorial roles with Comtek Computer Systems, Capital Network Solutions, and Kelly & Swain. He then owned and operated Connect IT Data Systems for 11 years.

He told Industry Insider that he admires the loyalty and commitment of the CDCR team.

“One thing that struck me, as I talk to the team and meet everyone, there are a lot of team members that have been part of CDCR for many years, which I think speaks to the level of commitment of the organization’s leadership and support for the team,” he said.

Gillespie was featured in June in an Industry Insider “One-on-One” interview in which he discussed his approach to management.

“My style is rooted in collaboration and communication,” he said. “I am very open to new ideas and innovative ways to solve business problems. I believe that business drives IT, and IT’s role is to continually evolve to support program areas and business units to provide services to help the people of California. I have been fortunate enough to work with some great leaders in the state that share my belief in empowering and enabling people by creating inclusiveness and opportunities.”

Gillespie, a Rocklin resident, received his Bachelor of Science degree in business (IT, management information systems and services) from the University of Phoenix, and he earned his Master of Public Administration degree from Arkansas State University. He is also an alumnus of CDT’s Information Technology Leadership Academy.
Dennis Noone is Executive Editor of Industry Insider. He is a career journalist, having worked at small-town newspapers and major metropolitan dailies including USA Today in Washington, D.C.