By 17 July 2024
by Jonathan Andrews
Michael Makstman has been appointed as the new Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the City and County of San Francisco and Director of the Department of Technology.
Makstman (pictured) had been serving as interim since December 2023 and previously worked for nearly seven years as the city’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
Asked why he decided to apply for the position, Makstman told Cities Today it was a combination of “it’s San Francisco”, caring for public service, and his experience in cybersecurity.
“The CIO needs to not only be someone with the skillset but also the passion and commitment for San Francisco,” he said. “My family lives here, and the policies and decisions we make in San Francisco government affects me all the way from my parents to my children. Moreover, the majority of my professional career has been in the San Francisco Bay Area.”
His first job after moving to the US as a refugee from Ukraine, was with the City of Chicago and has remained within the public sector to use his private sector experience to have a positive influence.
As a former CISO he brings a unique perspective having already built relationships with the city’s 50-plus departments, completing business impact analyses, planning for resiliency, and training on cybersecurity basics.
The three big challenges, or goals, he is focused on include cost-savings, digital transformation, and innovation.
“We’ve already [achieved cost savings] by providing transparent dashboards to view spending and negotiating better contracts whenever possible,” he said. “Although it’s not just about cost-savings – it’s about making sure our partners can continue delivering essential services that San Francisco residents and businesses need.”
He notes there is a need to “ramp up” cybersecurity and IT infrastructure to support remote and hybrid work and is focused on implementing more cloud-based solutions that are easily available and cost-effective.
“We want to make sure technology is available for staff and to San Franciscans around the clock and from anywhere in the city,” he added. “We’re committed to bringing these services to our critical departments like the Controller’s Office, the Department of Human Resources, and so many more.”
Maktsman will lead the Technology Department which has an annual operating budget of US$140 million and over 260 employees. It provides many of the core information technology infrastructure and services essential for city operations through its management of city data centres, telecommunications, SFGovTV, cybersecurity, public safety radio system maintenance, and operational support to more than 30,000 San Francisco government employees.
Image: City and County of San Francisco
