Rita has over two decades of extensive experience in government service, particularly in key technology leadership roles. Her innovative contributions have earned rapid deployment award from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, and she is recognized as a Top 25 Thinker, Doer, and Dreamer for her pioneering work with various agencies to address environmental and technological challenges. She has shared her insights as a speaker on critical infrastructure at DEFCON, focusing on comprehensive cybersecurity solutions. Her recent roles include serving as the CIO for the Employment Development Department, where she led the implementation of over 200 IT projects to streamline benefit processing, enhance cybersecurity , and reduce fraud during the pandemic. Before that, she was the CIO for the Secretary of State, focusing on electoral security and improving public service delivery. Currently, as the Chief Technology and Innovation Officer for the City of Rancho Cordova, Rita is dedicated to advancing security measures and driving innovative public sector solutions.