New chief facts officer for New York state: ‘Not terrible for a ‘C’ college student from Norfolk’
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — “Not bad for a ‘C’ student”: That is what Angelo”Tony” Riddick has to say as he settles into his new work as the main data officer for the Point out of New York.
Buddies get in touch with him Tony, and WAVY-Tv 10’s Regina Mobley is one particular of them. Tony Riddick and Regina graduated from Granby High School in 1979 and, several years later in the 1990s, they turned the initially Black graduates inducted into the Granby High University Hall of Fame.
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Regina Mobley at Granby Large University Hall of Fame Ceremony 2018 (WAVY photo/Regina Mobley) -
Angelo Riddick and wife Brenda J. Walker at Granby Superior Faculty Corridor of Fame ceremony (WAVY image/Regina Mobley)
There is also a double just take.
The Riddick identical twins Angelo and Lorenzo have been very well-regarded in the halls of Granby Significant University exactly where they had been achieved members of the football workforce and the NJROTC system. Equally had been destined for the officer ranks, in which about the several years Tony Riddick served in Germany, Korea, and Iraq, and The Pentagon. Lorenzo Riddick, the VIP pilot, served in Korea, Saudi Arabia, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama.
In 2008, Tony Riddick, a colonel, and their former NJROTC teacher Paul Evans presided over the retirement ceremony of twin brother Lt. Col. Lorenzo Riddick. Lorenzo Riddick is now the director of operations at Fort Eustis in Newport News.
Tony Riddick retired in 2014 and in 2016 he was named as the governor’s director of the Bureau of Data Engineering and main facts officer of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In December 2020, Tony Riddick built record when he turned the first Black main data officer for the Point out of New York.
The twins have produced their mother, Brenda Owen, of Hampton, proud about and around once again.
The so-termed “good” twin also reflected on Tony Riddick’s accomplishments, expressing his brother is all set for the worries in Albany.
“Tony has seriously labored hard to get to this position. His time in the Army and Virgin Islands as the CIO ready him for just about anything at all. We are quite very pleased, particularly from this kind of humble beginnings,” mentioned Lorenzo Riddick.
The so-called “aggressive twin,” Tony Riddick, has information for youthful Black men in his hometown.
“What I notify young children today, I am living evidence that a ‘C’ regular can consider you everywhere. All you have to do is have the aspirations and the power and the will to do the issues you want to do,” claimed TonyRiddick .
Tony Riddick is in charge of the information and facts technologies infrastructure and all conversation equipment for New York.
“On the surface, I am accountable for the IT infrastructure for the Point out of New York and all communication that takes place therein. [Also] databases administration, network infrastructure, and cybersecurity,” reported Tony Riddick. He has a staff members of 3,400 which incorporates a economic portfolio officer and a challenge supervisor.
Right after two months on the career, Tony Riddick was questioned about whether he has discovered the “unknown unknowns.”
“The unknowns are continue to the unknowns and it’s heading to be a problem with COVID likely on right now every working day there is a new phenomenon,” Tony Riddick stated.
The pandemic is only just one of the threats dealing with the country. Riddick is applying his military services-put in abilities to get on unique forms of enemies such as domestic terrorism and misinformation campaigns.
“Misinformation is in all probability the most important menace suitable now, in my feeling, to this country there are so several kinds of media out there that men and women eat each and every working day, and acquiring a deal with on what is actual and not actual is a new phenomenon,” he stated.
As Tony Riddick guards communications and technological innovation in New York, he holds near to his heart hope for young children in his hometown who are also preventing a diverse enemy.
“I was elevated by my mom and my grandma in Park Put and Villa Heights. It is not easy to endure in all those neighborhoods but decision-building is important. It will take will, it normally takes endurance, and it takes a aim,” reported Tony Riddick.