Karen Wong
Director
Public Safety Communications Office
California Technology Agency
Biography
Karen Wong was appointed Director, Public Safety Communications Division with the California Technology Agency on October 27, 2009. As a member of the California Technology Agency’s Senior Staff, she advises the California Technology Agency on the strategic management and direction of public safety communications including the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Program serving over 34 million people in 58 counties and the Public Safety Radio and Microwave Communications Systems serving the State’s Public Safety Agencies as well as over 100 smaller local governmental entities.
Prior to Karen’s appointment, she was with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for 21 years in various managerial assignments including Chief, Office of Telecommunications; Assistant Deputy Director, Environmental Health and Safety; Assistant Secretary (A) Office of Risk Management; and Deputy Director, Health Care Services Division, Administrative Services.
Karen has 14 years experience in telecommunications in which she spearheaded the installation of fiber optics and data communications wiring in the State’s prisons, provided leadership and strategic direction to modernize and replace prisons’ telecommunications systems including voice, radio and low voltage security systems. While at CDCR Karen also had the opportunity to initiate changes in the CDCR’s Workers’ Compensation program, which resulted in a multi-million dollar savings to the department; defined and developed the strategic direction for the CDCR’s risk management program; and provided leadership and strategic direction to the CDCR’s emergency management program working collaboratively with state and local government public safety partners.
Karen has a strong commitment to the modernization and improvement of public safety communications systems and building collaborative relationships with the public and private partners.