San Francisco Mayor London Breed and City Administrator Carmen Chu have appointed Michael Makstman chief information officer (CIO) of both the city and county of San Francisco, and director of the San Francisco Department of Technology.
Makstman previously served as the chief information security officer (CISO) at the Department of Technology, where he developed a cybersecurity training program, improved emergency preparedness, helped create the city’s Office of Cybersecurity and developed guidelines on generative AI technology.
“Our ability to improve the City’s technology infrastructure, create robust cybersecurity programs and explore AI solutions to bolster City services is pivotal to our efforts to continue to meet the needs of our residents and staff, respond to emergencies and protect San Francisco against real-time threats,” said Breed in a press release.
“Michael is a proven leader with significant experience in these areas and I look forward to working with him and City Administrator Chu to move San Francisco forward,” the mayor said.
“Michael’s contributions have been invaluable, serving as the City’s first Chief Information Security Officer and creating systems that significantly enhance the City’s and County’s resilience against cyber threats,” said Chu. “He was crucial in managing the technological challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic which allowed our staff to work safely and remotely.”
The Department of Technology – with an annual operating budget of $140 million – manages telecommunications, city data centers, cybersecurity and operational support for over 30,000 government employees. In his new role, Makstman will spearhead initiatives to enhance government services and responsive technology solutions.
“I am excited to continue leading an amazing DT team,” said Makstman. “We are committed to ensuring city technology is secure, reliable, and efficient in service of all San Franciscans.”
Makstman earned bachelor’s degrees in finance and IT from DePaul University and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a fellow of the Information Systems Security Association, and a founder and co-chair of the Coalition of City CISOs.
