The government relations firm Ballard Partners has announced the formation of a new Emerging Technology and AI Practice, appointing former California official Amy Tong as partner and practice lead. Tong will operate from the firm’s Sacramento office and support clients navigating the convergence of public policy, procurement, and advanced technology.
The move signals growing demand among organizations for counsel that understands both technical priorities and the regulatory landscape. With a background overseeing extensive state technology portfolios, Tong will guide clients through issues such as procurement of artificial intelligence solutions, public-private broadband initiatives, and state-level cybersecurity programs.
Why the new practice matters
The launch reflects how rapidly the worlds of policy and innovation are intersecting. Ballard Partners founder and president Brian Ballard framed the group as a response to rising client needs for integrated advice on the governance of advanced systems. By assembling a team around Tong’s experience, the firm aims to offer counsel on both technical choices and the political or regulatory ramifications of those choices.
Organizations now face complex decisions when adopting technologies that impact public services, privacy, and procurement rules. The practice will help clients interpret state-level standards, align vendor relationships with compliance demands, and anticipate how legislative attention to AI and data security may reshape procurement and deployment.
Amy Tong’s public-sector track record
During her tenure in California government, Tong managed a portfolio valued at approximately $67 billion and supervised more than $8 billion in technology investments. As Secretary of Government Operations and as California’s Chief Information Officer, she influenced the state’s approach to digital modernization and led significant initiatives in connectivity and cyber defense.
Tong’s accomplishments include spearheading the creation of the Cybersecurity Integration Center, overseeing major statewide broadband expansion projects, and implementing California’s first Generative AI Executive Order in 2026. That executive order established parameters for how the state would use and procure generative AI tools, setting a precedent for other public entities considering similar measures.
Translating government practice to private-sector strategy
Tong’s public-sector experience provides practical insight into how governments evaluate vendors, structure contracts, and weigh risk when adopting new technologies. Her new role will involve advising clients on aligning their products and proposals with public procurement expectations while managing reputational and compliance risk.
Ballard Partners says Tong will collaborate with a team of the firm’s partners to deliver this guidance. The combination of policy knowledge and lobbying experience aims to help technology companies, industry groups, and other organizations position themselves effectively in conversations with state governments.
Services and priorities for clients
The practice will focus on several priority areas where state governments and private-sector innovators interact frequently: responsible AI adoption, cybersecurity readiness, procurement and contracting strategy, and infrastructure projects like broadband deployment. Clients can expect support ranging from regulatory interpretation to stakeholder engagement and procurement navigation.
Since many jurisdictions are developing frameworks for ethical AI governance and cybersecurity standards, the new group intends to help clients adapt their product development and compliance processes accordingly. That includes translating emerging policy language into actionable steps firms can take to reduce barriers to adoption by public agencies.
What this means for stakeholders
For technology vendors, the practice offers a pathway to better understand how to meet public-sector requirements and present solutions in ways that align with state priorities. For public agencies, the team’s experience may provide an avenue for shaping responsible procurement by offering industry perspectives that reflect technical feasibility and implementation realities.
Ballard Partners characterized Tong’s appointment as strengthening the firm’s ability to advise on the intersection of innovation and public policy, describing her as a leader who will provide “unique insights” relevant to clients facing a rapidly changing technological and regulatory environment.
Leadership perspective and next steps
Tong commented that joining Ballard Partners represented an opportunity to work with a well-regarded government relations firm and to apply her experience to help organizations navigate public-sector decisionmaking. The firm plans to scale the practice to respond to ongoing demand for counsel on emerging technologies.
Operating from Sacramento, the team will be strategically positioned to engage with California state policy debates and to assist clients with matters that span technical design, procurement strategy, and policy compliance. As state governments continue to shape rules around advanced technologies, the practice aims to be a resource for organizations seeking informed, practical guidance.
The formation of Ballard Partners’ Emerging Technology and AI Practice underscores a broader market trend: as governments tighten oversight of digital systems, organizations increasingly need advisors who combine technical understanding with regulatory and political fluency.
