Sheriff’s Department director appointed to California wildfire board

By SDCN Editor

San Diego, CA–The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Chief Technology Officer Ashish “Yosh” Kakkad has been appointed to the California Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development Review Advisory Board, state officials said.

Governor Gavin Newsom made the announcement on June 23,  the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.

The Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development was established in 2021 to conduct research and test emergency technologies to improve the detection of and response to wildfires.  

San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez says she is proud to have Kakkad serve on Governor Newsom’s Wildfire Technology Research and Development Review Advisory Board.

“Ashish has been an industry leader in law enforcement and emergency response technology solutions in California, representing the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for years,” said Sheriff Martinez. “This appointment will undoubtedly lead to solving real-world problems by applying technology that is predictive and guides wildland fire response that will save lives while reducing and preventing property loss.”   

Kakkad, who joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2002, says he is honored to be able to use his experience in the IT field to help keep California safe from wildfires. 

“I am humbled and immensely grateful for this appointment by the Governor and the support from the Sheriff,” said Kakkad. “I am looking forward to working with the others on the board to do my part and contribute to the research and test emergency technology.”

Throughout his career, Kakkad has led an effort on numerous large and complex projects that have been beneficial for the Sheriff’s Department and the County of San Diego.

Early on in his Sheriff’s Department career, he was responsible for the regional data-sharing platform, actively utilized by more than 70 local, state, and federal agencies in San Diego County with more than 12,000 active users. 

In 2013, Ashish was appointed as the Sheriff’s Chief Technology Officer. In his role as CTO, he is responsible for managing the Sheriff’s Department’s technology budget and contracts, as well as ensuring the technology roadmap aligns with the department’s strategic goals. 

Kakkad also oversees the Sheriff’s Wireless Services Division, which is responsible for providing mission-critical voice communication to more than 100 local, state, and federal agencies in San Diego and Imperial Counties with more than 20,000 active radios on the system.

Since 2022, Kakkad has served as the County of San Diego’s Technology Manager. 

Kakkad has a Master of Business Administration degree in Technology Management from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Riverside. He is a first-generation Indian immigrant, as well as a U.S. Air Force veteran.