Michael Wilkening served as Senior Advisor for Delivery at the US Department of Health & Human Services and the Executive Office of the President, where he was co-lead of the Facing Financial Shock project. Prior to joining the federal government, Wilkening was California’s first Special Advisor on Innovation and Digital Services. Working directly with the highest ranking officials in California government, Wilkening chaired the Innovation & Technology Task Force, to connect the public and private sectors, designing and utilizing innovative approaches to shape California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He previously served as Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) and as Chair of Covered California. Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Wilkening was Undersecretary of CHHS for nearly a decade. He holds a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.