Ballard Partners Welcomes Amy Tong to Lead AI Practice Group
SACRAMENTO, CA – Ballard Partners, a leading international government relations and public affairs firm, today announced the launch of its new Emerging Technology and AI Practice Group. The firm’s expanded capabilities will be anchored by Amy Tong, former Secretary of Government Operations and Senior Counselor to Governor Newsom, who is joining the firm as a Partner to lead the specialized group. Tong will operate out of the firm’s existing Sacramento office, collaborating with a premier team of partners who are being added to the practice to meet growing client demand.
“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 Brian Ballard, President and Founder of Ballard Partners. “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.”
During her tenure as Secretary of Government Operations and previously as State Chief Information Officer, Tong managed an immense $67 billion portfolio and 22,000 employees, overseeing over $8 billion in technology investments. Her landmark initiatives include building California’s Cybersecurity Integration Center and launching the largest broadband middle-mile network in U.S. history.
A prominent pioneer in emerging tech policy, Tong directed California’s AI strategy by leading the implementation of the state’s very first Generative AI Executive Order in 2023 (Executive Order N-12-23), establishing a safety and procurement blueprint that several other states have since emulated. She also spearheaded the July 2025 Executive Order on Government Effectiveness and Efficiency, which launched a high-level task force with tech industry leaders to optimize public operations. Later that year, her systemic overhaul culminated in the delivery of the CA Breakthrough project’s initial milestones, successfully deploying key cross-department modernization projects to maximize government performance.
“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,” said Tong. “Forming and leading the Emerging Technology and AI Practice Group presents a phenomenal opportunity to bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and strategic public policy, and I am excited to collaborate with my new partners to drive meaningful results for our clients.”
Her crisis-tested leadership and strategic foresight have earned her widespread industry acclaim, including recognition as one of the Top 50 Movers & Shakers in Government Technology, a three-time GoldenGov State Executive of the Year, and a two-time Top Woman in Technology.
Outside of her government service, Tong is deeply committed to community, civic, and academic organizations. Her extensive advisory background includes roles on the University of California CITRIS board, the California State University AI Advisory Board, the California Racial Equity Commission, and serving as an Elk Grove City Planning Commissioner and a Board Trustee for California Northstate University. She is also highly active with the NAACP and the Asian Pacific State Employee Association, and serves as a national senior advisor to the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA). Tong holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
The addition of Tong and the creation of the Emerging Technology and AI Practice Group further underscores Ballard Partners’ commitment to maintaining a best-in-class advocacy team and expanding its strategic capabilities at the intersection of technology, business, and government.
