Bernard Soriano
Encyclopedia
Bernard Soriano is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Soriano served as the CIO for the California Secretary of State and also as the technology head for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's
California Performance Review. In 2004, he was named one of the 50 most influential individuals in technology by Silicon.com, along with Apple’s Steve Jobs
, Microsoft’s Bill Gates
, and Google’s Eric Schmidt. The readers voted him the 3rd most influential person behind Jobs (#1) and Linus Torvalds (#2), and ahead of Gates (#5).
Soriano was born and raised on the Hawaiian
island of Kaua'i. The oldest of three children of Pedro and Juana Soriano, he attended Imaculate Conception School and Kaua'i High and Intermediate School
in Lihu'e. While attending Kaua'i High, Soriano was very active in student government and athletics, competing in football and in track and field. He was a member of the varsity track and field team as an 8th grader and qualified for the state championship in the 100m and 200m dash in each of his four years of high school. He was a member of the varsity football team for three years, and the team won the KIF championship. Soriano was a defensive back and was named to the all-KIF team. Soriano earned eight varsity letters and also played the saxophone in the school’s marching band and concert band. In his senior year, Soriano was named the school’s scholar-athlete and received the Governor John A. Burns
memorial scholarship.
Soriano attended the University of California, Davis
and graduated in 1985 with a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering. While attending U.C. Davis, he was a member of the school’s varsity football team for four years. Notable teammates include Ken O’Brien
, Bo Eason
, Dan Hawkins
, and Mike Wise.
Soriano earned graduate degrees from the University of Southern California
(M.S. in Mechanical Engineering), the California State University, Sacramento (M.B.A. in Finance), and the University of California, Irvine
(Ph.D. in Engineering).
Professional life
Soriano first worked for Hughes Aircraft Company, later known as Hughes Space and Communications Company, starting in 1985. He was involved in the design and analysis of satellite attitude control systems.
In 1994, Soriano was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate finalist. Notable individuals from the group include Rick Husband, William McCool, and Stephen Robinson
.
Also in 1994, Soriano was hired by the United States Golf Association
(USGA) to be the Assistant Technical Director for the Research and Test Center.
Soriano was appointed by California Governor Pete Wilson
to be the Chief Technology Officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in 1997. Two years later, California Secretary of State Bill Jones
appointed Soriano to be the office’s Chief Information Officer.
In 2004, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger named Soriano to be the technology lead for the California Performance Review.
Military service
Soriano received a direct commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant before leaving military service.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
California Performance Review. In 2004, he was named one of the 50 most influential individuals in technology by Silicon.com, along with Apple’s Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
, Microsoft’s Bill Gates
Bill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
, and Google’s Eric Schmidt. The readers voted him the 3rd most influential person behind Jobs (#1) and Linus Torvalds (#2), and ahead of Gates (#5).
Biography
Early Life and EducationSoriano was born and raised on the Hawaiian
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
island of Kaua'i. The oldest of three children of Pedro and Juana Soriano, he attended Imaculate Conception School and Kaua'i High and Intermediate School
Kauai High School
Kauai High School is a public high school located in Lihue, Hawaii. It is named after the island Kauai, which is also known as the Garden Isle....
in Lihu'e. While attending Kaua'i High, Soriano was very active in student government and athletics, competing in football and in track and field. He was a member of the varsity track and field team as an 8th grader and qualified for the state championship in the 100m and 200m dash in each of his four years of high school. He was a member of the varsity football team for three years, and the team won the KIF championship. Soriano was a defensive back and was named to the all-KIF team. Soriano earned eight varsity letters and also played the saxophone in the school’s marching band and concert band. In his senior year, Soriano was named the school’s scholar-athlete and received the Governor John A. Burns
John A. Burns
John Anthony Burns served as the second Governor of Hawaii from 1962 to 1974. Born in Fort Assinniboine, Montana, Burns was a resident of Hawaii from 1913....
memorial scholarship.
Soriano attended the University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
and graduated in 1985 with a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering. While attending U.C. Davis, he was a member of the school’s varsity football team for four years. Notable teammates include Ken O’Brien
Ken O'Brien
Kenneth John O'Brien is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. When he retired he was the only Jets quarterback to have ever been the top ranked passer in a season. He held the team record for most...
, Bo Eason
Bo Eason
Bo Eason is a former professional American football player who played safety for four seasons for the Houston Oilers. He is currently an actor and playwright. His show "Runt of the Litter" is now being performed in multiple cities. His brother is former NFL quarterback, Tony Eason.-External links:*...
, Dan Hawkins
Dan Hawkins
Dan Hawkins may refer to:* Dan Hawkins , British rock guitarist* Dan Hawkins , the former head football coach at the University of Colorado at Boulder...
, and Mike Wise.
Soriano earned graduate degrees from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(M.S. in Mechanical Engineering), the California State University, Sacramento (M.B.A. in Finance), and the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
(Ph.D. in Engineering).
Professional life
Soriano first worked for Hughes Aircraft Company, later known as Hughes Space and Communications Company, starting in 1985. He was involved in the design and analysis of satellite attitude control systems.
In 1994, Soriano was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate finalist. Notable individuals from the group include Rick Husband, William McCool, and Stephen Robinson
Stephen Robinson
Stephen Kern Robinson is a NASA astronaut. He was born October 26, 1955, in Sacramento, California.He enjoys flying, antique aircraft, swimming, canoeing, hiking, music, art, and stereo photography. He plays lead guitar in Max Q, a rock and roll band...
.
Also in 1994, Soriano was hired by the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
(USGA) to be the Assistant Technical Director for the Research and Test Center.
Soriano was appointed by California Governor Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
to be the Chief Technology Officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in 1997. Two years later, California Secretary of State Bill Jones
Bill Jones
William Leon Jones is a U.S. politician from California who served in the California State Assembly and later served as California's 27th Secretary of State...
appointed Soriano to be the office’s Chief Information Officer.
In 2004, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger named Soriano to be the technology lead for the California Performance Review.
Military service
Soriano received a direct commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant before leaving military service.