Ballard Partners is launching a new Emerging Technology and AI Practice Group and has tapped former California Government Operations Secretary Amy Tong to lead the effort.
Tong joins the firm as a Partner after serving as Secretary of Government Operations and Senior Counselor to Gov. Gavin Newsom, where she oversaw a sprawling portfolio that included technology investments, cybersecurity initiatives and statewide modernization efforts. She previously served as California’s Chief Information Officer and played a leading role in developing the state’s approach to artificial intelligence policy.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Amy to our powerhouse California team and to launch this vital Emerging Technology and AI Practice group under her world-class leadership,” said firm founder and President Brian Ballard. “As tech innovation, artificial intelligence, and government policy become increasingly intertwined, Amy—alongside a powerhouse team of our firm’s partners — will offer unique insights that will be instrumental in delivering the exceptional results our clients expect in this rapidly evolving landscape.”
Tong will lead the new practice from the firm’s Sacramento office, helping clients navigate the increasingly complex intersection of technology, AI and government policy amid a time of significant demand for guidance on emerging tech issues.
During her time in state government, Tong managed a $67 billion portfolio and oversaw more than $8 billion in technology investments. Her tenure included the creation of California’s Cybersecurity Integration Center, oversight of major broadband expansion efforts and implementation of California’s first Generative AI Executive Order in 2023, which established a framework for the state’s use and procurement of artificial intelligence technologies.
“Ballard Partners is widely recognized as one of the most effective, respected, and forward-thinking government relations firms in the country, and I am deeply honored to join such a talented group of professionals,” Tong said in a statement announcing the move.
