Nick Beard Photo Courtesy of the California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol has appointed Nick Beard, a former Senior Business Manager at the California Department of Technology (CDT), as its new Chief Technology Officer, the department confirmed this week.

“I have a great team of individuals ensuring the mission to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security is supported with innovative technologies,” said Beard in a LinkedIn post.

In his new role, Beard oversees the Customer Services and Network Security Groups, leading the development and execution of IT strategic plans to ensure alignment with CHP’s mission, according to his LinkedIn profile. He manages vendor relationships, procurement, and contract management and collaborates with state agencies to support operational needs while optimizing budget and grant funding.

For the past three years, he served as the Senior Business Manager at the CDT, where he managed the operations of the Middle Mile Broadband Network. Before that, he was the Chief Operations Manager at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) from May 2020 to August 2021. He also served as IT Procurement Officer at the California Department of Technology from November 2018 to May 2020 and as a Project Manager at the same department from July 2015 to November 2018.

During his tenure at CDT, Beard co-authored the Request for Innovative Ideas (RFI²) procurement method, which followed Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2019 executive order to create more flexible approaches to state technology procurements.  His efforts led to a key partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to implement the predictive technology that helped the department accelerate its modernization efforts.   

As part of CDT’s Project Approval Lifecycle team, he worked on the innovative ePay system for the Department of Motor Vehicles, allowing the department to offer multiple payment methods to Californians in every field office.  

He also helped the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Strategic Offender Management System win approval for the next implementation phase and ensured the newest technology was implemented for the State’s Public Safety Answering Points, allowing a better and more accurate connection between Californians and our public safety first responders. 

Beard holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento, and a graduate degree in Emergency Management from California State University, Long Beach. He has been a certified Project Management Professional for the past decade.

Editorial note: This article was updated with additional biographical information provided by the California Highway Patrol.