Leadership
Secretary of GovOps
Nick Maduros
Nick Maduros was appointed Secretary of Government Operations by Governor Gavin Newsom in March of 2025, elevated to the role after serving as Director of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).
During his tenure at CDTFA, Maduros administered 42 tax and fee programs for the State of California. Together with his team of 4,000 tax professionals, he was responsible for collecting more than $96 billion in public revenue annually. Maduros focused on fairly and efficiently administering CDTFA’s many tax programs. Through better use of data and operational improvements, Maduros and his team cut the cost per dollar of revenue by 25% and held spending more than $100 million below authorized levels in each of the last two fiscal years.
Prior to his appointment at CDTFA, Maduros served in the Obama Administration as chief of staff of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). At the SBA, he managed a team of 3,000 employees in 70 offices, an $871 million annual operating budget and the agency’s $120 billion loan guarantee portfolio. Under his leadership, the SBA achieved record highs in small business lending, growing the agency’s flagship loan program by 25% to $24.1 billion, and met the women-owned government contracting goal for the first time in history.
Earlier in his career, Maduros worked as an attorney and advised leading nonprofit organizations and corporations on a range of public policy challenges. He is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School. A native of Stockton, California, he now lives in Davis with his wife and three young daughters.
Undersecretary
Christine Harada
Christine Harada is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors, recognized for her expertise in sustainability, infrastructure, and strategic investment. With her unique blend of technical knowledge, policy acumen, and business strategy, Harada continues to drive transformative change at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and infrastructure development.
During the Biden-Harris administration, Harada served as a Senior Advisor with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House, where she oversaw Federal procurement policy, driving innovation and efficiency across $750 billion in annual spend. Harada also held the role of Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, managing a portfolio of nearly $100 billion in large-scale infrastructure projects. Her leadership focused on expediting renewable energy projects, coastal restoration efforts, and the expansion of electricity transmission networks critical to the nation’s clean energy goals.
Previously, Harada served as the White House Federal Chief Sustainability Officer under President Barack Obama, where she spearheaded federal sustainability initiatives across energy management, vehicle fleet modernization, and sustainable procurement practices. Her work laid the foundation for a more energy-efficient and environmentally conscious federal government.
In the private sector, Harada served as President of i(x) investments, a pioneering firm dedicated to impact-driven investments. Under her leadership, the company advanced projects in renewable energy, green real estate development, and accessible, smart, and sustainable housing solutions. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Rekor Solutions (REKR).
Harada’s academic credentials reflect her deep interdisciplinary expertise. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University, an MBA from the Wharton School, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two teenage sons.
Executive Leadership
Justyn Howard
Deputy Secretary, Fiscal Policy and Administration
Prior to joining the Government Operations Agency, Mr. Howard served in a number of capacities at the California Department of Finance, including as Program Budget Manager from 2015 to 2017, Assistant Program Budget Manager from 2013 to 2015, and Principal Program Budget Analyst from 2010 to 2013. In these roles, Mr. Howard oversaw state-wide budget development, implementation and fiscal policy for several state departments, local government programs and Redevelopment Agency Dissolution. Prior to his state career, Mr. Howard worked in Logistics for Target Corporation. Mr. Howard has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance, from California State University, Sacramento.
Email: Justyn.Howard@govops.ca.gov
Pam Chueh
State Chief Equity Officer
Pam Chueh was appointed as California’s first State Chief Equity Officer by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2022. Driven by her personal experience as the parent of a child with multiple disabilities, Chueh previously led Sacramento non-profit organization, WarmLine Family Resource Center, as its Executive Director to serve families of children with disabilities. Chueh served the State Assembly and Sacramento State University as Director of the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program for a decade mentoring and developing over 200 young leaders for public service. Chueh began her career as a welfare-to-work case manager and job developer for Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Social Services. This experience, coupled with her background as an immigrant, led her to various roles with the State Assembly, including serving as the first staff Consultant to the California Asian Pacific Legislative Caucus, Special Assistant to two Assembly Speakers, Legislative Assistant, and Field Representative. Pam’s other professional experiences include serving as a Legislative Advocate for Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Social Services and Community and Government Relations Manager for Kaiser Permanente in San Jose. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, San Diego.
Email: Pam.Chueh@govops.ca.gov
Chris Given
Deputy Secretary, Technology and Innovation
Chris Given is a technologist with more than a decade of experience empowering talented, multi-disciplinary teams to craft more accessible and effective government services. He previously led the team that designed and built IRS Direct File, making it possible to file taxes online directly with the IRS for the first time. A seasoned civil servant, he’s worked across ten federal agencies—including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Administration for Children and Families—as well as the states of Connecticut, Illinois, and the District of Columbia. Chris has taught at the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and is a graduate of Bard College.
Email: Chris.Given@govops.ca.gov
Roy Kennedy
Deputy Secretary of Communications
Roy Kennedy was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Government Operations Agency in 2024. Prior to his appointment, Kennedy served as Assistant Secretary of Communications at the California Government Operations Agency since 2021. He held multiple positions at Covered California from 2013 to 2021 where he helped lead the Communications and Public Relations office, serving as Website and Administrative Branch Chief, Acting Deputy Director of Communications and Public Relations and Information Officer. After completing internships in both radio and television, he held several positions at KXTV News10 from 2000 to 2013, including Assignment Manager and Assignment Editor. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from California State University, Sacramento.
Email: Roy.Kennedy@govops.ca.gov
Luis Larios
Deputy Secretary of Legislation
Luis Larios was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Government Operations Agency in 2022. Prior to his appointment, Larios served as Deputy Appointments Secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom where he helped hundreds of candidates successfully navigate the appointments process. Previously, he worked for several legislators in the California State Assembly. He was a Senior Assistant in the Office of State Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, a Legislative Aide in the Office of State Assemblymember Mike Gipson, and an Assembly Fellow in the Office of State Assemblymember Kevin Mullin. While working in the California State Assembly Luis was elected as Policy Director for the California Latino Capitol Association and was also involved in the Capital Fellows Alumni Association. Luis holds a B.A. in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley.
Email: Luis.Larios@govops.ca.gov
Sally Ly
Deputy Secretary, Workforce Development
Sally Ly is a seasoned leader in workforce development and human resources, with more than 15 years of experience in public administration at both the state and local levels. She previously oversaw complex human resources policies and operations for the City of Sacramento and currently serves as a commissioner on the County of Sacramento Civil Service Commission. Sally’s experience includes civil service rules, talent acquisition, classification and compensation, civil service examinations, and initiatives related to workforce equity and inclusion. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of the Pacific and a Master of Public Administration from the McGeorge School of Law. She is also recognized as a Senior Certified Professional by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP). As a first-generation Hmong American, Sally brings a unique and thoughtful perspective to her work in public service.
Gabriel Ravel
Chief Counsel
Gabriel Ravel was appointed Deputy Secretary and General Counsel of the Government Operations Agency in June 2020. In his role, he advises the Secretary and GovOps staff on legal matters and helps to coordinate the legal work of GovOps departments. Gabriel has spent almost his entire career as an attorney in state service, including appointments as General Counsel at the California Health & Human Services Agency, General Counsel at the California Department of Managed Health Care, where he focused on health plan regulation and helped guide and defend the Department’s policy on reproductive rights, and as Assistant General Counsel at Covered California, helping to stand up the state’s health exchange. He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Edward F. Shea of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Before attending law school, Gabriel spent a year volunteering at a health clinic in a rural area of Washington State that primarily served migrant farmworkers.
Email: gabriel.ravel@govops.ca.gov
Sarah Soto-Taylor
Deputy Secretary of Strategic Development
Sarah Soto-Taylor is focused on modernizing how the state does business—from bringing Generative AI into government operations to rethinking the delivery of services for the future. With nearly three decades in public service, Sarah has worn many hats, always focused on bridging vision with execution to make government more effective, inclusive, and innovative. She helped lead California’s groundbreaking Census 2020 outreach effort and has held key leadership roles at the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, Department of Health Care Services and Covered California, where her expansive portfolio included health policy, systems integration, and community engagement. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education and a Master of Public Health from San Diego State University and is a proud alum of the HOPE Leadership Institute. She’s passionate about transforming programs to serve Californians—and making big ideas happen.
Erin Suhr
Senior Advisor, Strategy and Operations
Email: erin.suhr@govops.ca.gov
Erin Suhr joins the California Government Operations Agency as Senior Advisor for Strategy and Operations. Suhr previously served as Director of Operations for the Governor’s office, serving the Newsom administration for more than five years. Erin has spent the majority of her career serving at the highest levels of federal and state government, most notably serving as Vice President Joe Biden’s deputy director of scheduling during the first two years of the Obama/Biden administration. She has also worked on numerous presidential campaigns and under three governor’s administrations. Erin has also held strategic advisor and project manager positions in the private sector.
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