Long Beach to Appoint New Tech Director in November
Tendaji K. Jamal will take over as the city's director of technology and innovation starting November 16, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in People
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Long Beach has named Tendaji K. Jamal as its new director of technology and innovation, effective November 16, 2026. He succeeds the former director, Lea Eriksen, who departed the role earlier this year in April.
Why it matters
The appointment fills a leadership vacancy that has been managed on an acting basis since April 2026. The new director will be tasked with overseeing the citys ongoing technology infrastructure and digital service goals.
The city's TID28 strategic road map includes 31 distinct technology projects slated for completion over a 4-year period. Tendaji K. Jamal brings 25 years of professional experience in public-sector technology leadership to the role.
The players
Tendaji K. Jamal
He is the incoming director of technology and innovation for Long Beach who previously served as chief information technology officer at Pasadena City College.
Lea Eriksen
She is the former director of technology and innovation for the city who left the position in April 2026.
Meredith Reynolds
She served as the acting director of technology and innovation for Long Beach starting in April 2026.
The details
Tendaji K. Jamal will conduct a comprehensive assessment of city systems by meeting with departments and staff to address service goals. His plans focus on advancing digital government tools and improving data sharing across city departments.
Timeline
April 4, 2026: Meredith Reynolds began serving as acting director.
April 2026: Lea Eriksen departed the director position.
November 16, 2026: Tendaji K. Jamal begins his new role.
Market Landscape
This appointment aligns the city's leadership with the long-term objectives outlined in the TID28 strategic road map. By securing a seasoned technology official, Long Beach aims to maintain competitive digital service delivery compared to other regional municipal entities.
Residents and business owners can expect a transition in the management of digital municipal services starting in November. Long-term updates to data sharing and digital government tools may eventually impact how the public interacts with city departments.
The takeaway
The appointment of a permanent director marks a return to standard leadership for the city's technology department. Residents should look for future departmental updates as the new director initiates his assessment of existing systems.
What happens next
Tendaji K. Jamal is scheduled to begin his new role as the director of technology and innovation on November 16, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local leadership changes, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Government Technology.
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