Rafael Mena was appointed Chief Information Officer by the Orange County Mayor in 2002. For nearly two decades, he has overseen a skilled team of IT professionals responsible for addressing the technological needs of over 8,000 Orange County employees within the framework of an $8 billion budget. His principal objective is to advance the Mayor’s vision of establishing Orange County as the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” through fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and inclusiveness.
Mr. Mena's significant achievements include:
• Invitation to present before President Barack Obama in 2013 regarding Orange County’s advancements in emergency response. He delivered presentations on the OCFL Alert and OCFL 311 mobile applications, which assist residents during extreme weather events.
• Recognition from the Dominican Republic Ministry of the Presidency for his contributions to the implementation of the country's emergency 911 system, video surveillance system, and radio system.
• Inclusion among the Top 25 Influential Hispanics in Central Florida by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando (HCCMO).
• Recipient of the "Top 100" Most Influential Hispanics in Information Technology award by the Hispanic IT Executive Council.
• Designated as lead local CIO at the Government Technology Editorial Roundtable
• Selected as one of the "Top 25 Dreamers, Doers, and Drivers" in Digital Government and government technology professionals nationwide by Government Technology Magazine.
Mr. Mena is actively engaged in community initiatives, particularly those focused on developing future IT leaders. He collaborates with local educational institutions and regularly volunteers his time to speak with high school and college students interested in careers in technology.