Stewart brought his efforts to bear in various aspects of new and emerging technology — autonomous vehicle testing, expansion of 5G telecommunications technology in Sacramento, subscription-based ride hailing, cybersecurity, digital license plates, and bus-based Wi-Fi, among others. He also serves as a mentor to many and as an advocate for industry and academia.
Originally published on August 28, 2020 by Dennis Noone on Techwire.net
Sacramento Chief Innovation Officer Louis Stewart has announced that he’s leaving his role with the city, effective Sept. 7.
Stewart was appointed as chief innovation officer (CIO) in May 2017, shortly after Mayor Darrell Steinberg initiated a reorganization of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
“Let me start by saying this is both personal as well as professional,” Stewart told Techwire in an email interview Friday. “I am making the leap back into the private sector after 13 years of serving as a civil servant. Now I move into a company that works in AI and Deep Learning. I keep pushing for inclusion and diversification in tech and innovation. Last but not least, I keep championing Sacramento and its role in the digital future.”
As the city’s chief innovation executive, Stewart brought his efforts to bear in various aspects of new and emerging technology — autonomous vehicle testing, expansion of 5G telecommunications technology in Sacramento, subscription-based ride-hailing, cybersecurity, digital license plates, and bus-based Wi-Fi being made accessible for free public use, among others. He also served as a mentor to many and as an advocate for industry and academia.
In an interview with Techwire in August 2018, Stewart shared his view of government’s role in innovation: “The government a lot of time is a convener, because it’s not like we have resources galore to either man all this stuff and make all these projects happen or pay to have all this stuff happen,” he said. “We’re hoping that with minimal investment and with partners jumping in with us, we can minimize how much impact it is on Sacramento, but on the other side, maximize what we actually get.”
Stewart said he’s satisfied with his achievements, but he regrets leaving some work unfinished.
“I was able to help bring together a digital workforce coalition before leaving, but I would have liked to be able to truly connect them to the opportunities on the horizon in cybersecurity, in artificial intelligence, in the internet of things broadly.”
Stewart started his career in the private sector in 1996, then spent 2006-2007 working as the statewide IT and telecommunications director for Californians for Schwarzenegger, a role in which he oversaw the strategy, construction and implementation of technology used in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s re-election campaign.
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