California names state technology champion
State Fair Selects Dr. Robert Tse as Technology Champion of the Year
The California State Fair announced Dr. Robert Tse the 2014 recipient of the Champion of Technology at its June 27 2014 State Fair Gala. This is the first year the award has been conferred. The Champion of Technology award was created to recognize a superior effort by a technology leader or organization for the benefit of all Californians.
Dr. Robert Tse is a Community Planning and Development Specialist with USDA Rural Development. He is responsible for developing regional rural economic development strategies in California including increasing collaboration, resources and initiatives through federal, state, local government and public-private partnerships.
Tse is an articulate and established leader in the call for ubiquitous access to broadband. He tirelessly advocates for technology-based answers to economic challenges in California, whether developing drought-efficient farming techniques, or utilizing broadband to increase harvest yield.
He was instrumental as the lead in Fresno’s Strong Cities – Strong Communities White House pilot initiative in Fresno. Prior to this position he was an international consultant focusing on food and agriculture; served as the Deputy Director for International Trade in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. He also served as Deputy Secretary for Trade Development with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
“We are delighted to hear that Dr. Robert Tse was selected as 2014 Technology Champion of the Year. Dr. Tse is an extraordinary visionary and communicator,” said Carlos Ramos, director of the California Department of Technology. “His work on utilizing broadband and technology, notably his promotion of AgTech, has had tremendous impact, especially in the Fresno region. By spreading the message of how we can conserve water using broadband technology in agriculture, to demonstrating how gps can be used to navigate driverless tractors, he is improving the quality of life for countless Californians, and making our farms and cities even smarter.”
Tse also served on the Governor’s California Recovery Task Force on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from 2009-10. He was the Director of Trade for CDFA and is a 17-year veteran of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
Robert Tse holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Boston College Law School, a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and Bachelor of Arts degree in American History from Brown University. He was a California Agricultural Leadership, D.C. Fellow and International Career Advancement Program fellow. He is a member of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, World Affairs Council of Sacramento and Board of Advisors to Drexel University Sacramento.
