Teri Takai is co-executive director of the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute focused on information-technology policies and best practices in state and local government. She served as the CIO for the state of Michigan and subsequently for the state of California, and as the CIO for the U.S. Department of Defense. Before moving to government, Takai worked for the Ford Motor Co. for 30 years in global application development and information technology strategic planning. From Ford, she moved to EDS in support of General Motors.
Takai was honored in 2005 as one of Governing magazine's Public Officials of the Year, and also has been recognized as one of Government Technology magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. She was named to CIO magazine's CIO Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the Women in Defense Excellence in Leadership Award and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
