City of Long Beach Announces Departure of Director of Technology and Innovation Department

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach announced today the upcoming departure of Lea Eriksen, Director of the Department of Technology and Innovation (TID). Ms. Eriksen has accepted the position of Senior Assistant City Manager of the City of Culver City. Ms. Eriksen has served the Long Beach community since 2014, initially with the Financial Management Department as Budget Manager and then Assistant Finance Director, leading the development of the City's budget process. Since joining TID as Director in 2018, Ms. Eriksen has led the department through a period of significant transformation and growth.

"Lea's leadership has positioned Long Beach as a national model for digital equity and technology-driven public service," said City Manager Tom Modica. "Her vision and strategic focus have strengthened our technology infrastructure and improved how we deliver services to the community. We're grateful for her service to Long Beach and wish her continued success in this next chapter."

Under her leadership, TID evolved from a traditional service provider into a strategic partner supporting departments Citywide. Ms. Eriksen oversaw nearly 200 employees and a $90 million annual budget, advancing major infrastructure modernization efforts, strengthening cybersecurity and expanding access to digital services - including initiatives that significantly reduced barriers to internet access in vulnerable communities.

During a period that included the pandemic, civil unrest and a major cybersecurity incident, Ms. Eriksen's team dutifully maintained continuity while strengthening data transparency, cybersecurity resilience and emergency response capabilities.

Ms. Eriksen coordinated an $80 million technology infrastructure modernization program and supported 19 information technology tracks for the City's $900 million Civic Center project. She is especially proud of community-centered programs such as the Digital Inclusion Initiative, Digital Rights platform, LB Co-Lab and Love Your Block,which empower residents to drive positive change in their neighborhoods through digital equity, collective impact and trust building.

"Serving the Long Beach community has been one of the greatest honors of my career," said Ms. Eriksen. "I am deeply proud of the work our team has accomplished together in building a connected, secure and future-ready Long Beach, including strengthening cybersecurity, modernizing technology infrastructure, expanding digital equity and access, responsibly exploring emerging technology, and nurturing a culture rooted in innovation and service. Long Beach is my home, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to help shape its future."

During her tenure, TID earned sustained national recognition, including a record five consecutive No. 1 Digital City rankings in its population category, designation as a Digital Inclusion Trailblazer for eight consecutive years and recognition in the AI 50 for advancing responsible artificial intelligence adoption. In 2024, the City received the Southern California CIO ORBIE Award for technology leadership in the Large Enterprise category, and in 2022 Ms. Eriksen was named one of the top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers in the field of Government Technology for advancing digital equity and using emerging technology and data to address civic challenges in Long Beach.

Ms. Eriksen will remain a Long Beach resident with her family. Her last day with the City will be April 3, 2026. The City will announce interim leadership and a national recruitment plan in the coming weeks.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

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