Gov. Spencer J. Cox recently appointed Christopher Bramwell as the new Department of Government Operations Privacy Officer. The position was created by the Utah Legislature during the most recent legislative session (see HB 243) and requires Senate approval.
“Protecting the personal privacy of all Utahns has become even more important as technology has advanced,” Gov. Cox said. “I’m pleased to see this new emphasis on privacy and look forward to developing policies that will hold the state accountable for the use of Utahns’ personal data and information.”
The Privacy Officer will survey and compile information about privacy practices of state agencies. The Officer will also identify, prioritize, and review agency privacy practices that pose the greatest risk to individual privacy and provide recommendations for reform if needed. The Government Operations Privacy Officer will work with the new Personal Privacy Oversight Commission and the new State Privacy Officer, providing specific government privacy practices reports and recommendations.
Since 2014, Bramwell has been Director of Information Privacy and Security for the Utah Department of Human Services where he led the creation and management of information privacy, security and compliance programs. He set the foundation for the DHS-wide system modernization strategy to migrate to cloud services which has enabled implementation of enhanced privacy and security tools while also building user-focused platforms and technology services for the public that will enable all Utahn’s to access and use Human Services technology whenever and wherever they need. In addition to working for DHS, Bramwell has worked for the Utah Department of Technology Services and the United States Department of Homeland Security.
“I am honored and humbled by this opportunity to be part of the team Gov. Cox has created to lead Utah into a new era of user-focused platforms for the public and high-level technology services for our valued state employees. I look forward to serving the citizens of Utah and helping create the programs that will hold the state accountable for the use of Utahns’ personal data and information with which we have been entrusted,” said Bramwell.
About Department of Government Operations
The newly formed Department of Government Operations provides core services to other state agencies. The goal of the agency is to support and enable other state agencies to fulfill their core missions. The Division of Technology Services provides information technology services for agencies in Utah.
