Sonobe Joins DOE Information Technology Office

Clyde Sonobe has been approved by the Hawai’i State Board of Education as assistant superintendent for the Hawai’i State Department of Education’s Office of Information Technology Services.

“Clyde’s extensive technical and management experience in the public and private sectors – along with his work in the area of public education – will be invaluable as we continue to integrate, enhance and expand our technology services to support school and educators,” said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi.

Since 2011, Sonobe has been an advisor with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai’i. He has also been an instrumental force behind the State of Hawai’i broadband initiative, which has a major goal of offering one-gigabyte service to all residents by 2018.

Sonobe, in his role, has advised the DOE and the state Office of Information Management and Technology on broadband and internet connectivity for Hawai’i’s public schools and DOE offices.

For a 15 year period from 1995 to 2010, Sonobe worked as a cable TV administrator at the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. There he led the launch of eHawaii.gov and managed many initiatives, like the interisland fiber connectivity. Before his work with DCCA, Sonobe was an executive and systems engineer at IBM Co.

“I would like to thank Superintendent Matayoshi and the Board of Education for this opportunity to return to public service,” Sonobe said. “I look forward to accelerating technology upgrades to provide DOE schools with the latest IT tools to empower all public school students to achieve and excel to their full potential.”