Lauren Harrison is the managing editor for Government Technology magazine. She has a degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and more than 10 years’ experience in book and magazine publishing.
The annual NASCIO conference concludes with a look at how states are developing governance frameworks around the latest technologies to ensure a focus on citizens and avoid being drawn toward “every shiny widget.”
In a live virtual panel, NASCIO released its annual survey of state chief information officers today, supporting the notion that state IT leaders led the transition to remote work and a renewed push for digital services.
Plus, startups use machine learning to reduce the massive amount of waste in U.S. grocery stores, an app raises funds to identify users’ personal risks in emergencies and LG launches an air-purifying face mask.
Plus, the amount of equity-based investments made in the space sector, Google Maps integrates bike share information after a year-long pilot in New York City, and app downloads in the U.S. versus China this year.
Interim New York State Chief Information Officer Jeremy Goldberg discusses the transition from city to state IT, and what lessons from initiatives like Startup in Residence can be applied at higher levels.
Plus, the dramatic jump in Internet traffic from COVID-19, a new tool from Microsoft that identifies politically incorrect language online and a device that prevents digital home assistants from always listening.
While the novel coronavirus has brought new challenges to government IT teams, chief information officers from Georgia, Ohio and Utah discuss the opportunities presented by changing the status quo.
At a virtual session of the NASCIO midyear conference, North Carolina Chief Risk Officer Maria Thompson explained why states must help their cities and counties in the fight against hackers.
Plus, the predicted growth of 5G adoption worldwide, drones that navigate via bat-like echolocation and a new ride-sharing app that proved far more popular than Uber when it first hit the streets of London.
CTO, Arkansas
California Chief Information Officer Amy Tong explains how technology is helping combat deadly wildfires, her approach to making state agencies digitally accessible and ensuring Internet connectivity for all.
Plus, new tech IDs people by the sound of their bones, the number of tweens who have their own smartphones, and a giant ocean buoy that designers believe will generate enough energy to power a small town.
Speaking at the NASCIO conference last month, Wisconsin CIO David Cagigal talked about the data analytics work the state will undertake when it gets past its current state of being “data rich and information poor.”
Hiring a chief data officer last year helped kick off some transformational data work in the commonwealth of Kentucky, according to Chief Information Officer Chuck Grindle. Here, he outlines their progress so far.
Chief Information Officer David Cagigal says Wisconsin has a responsibility to help locals with cybersecurity. But the state has its own unique pressure related to the Democratic Convention in Milwaukee next July.
Chief Information Officer Shawn Riley says it is inevitable that technology will leapfrog state IT preparedness and explains why developing a culture focused on adaptation and evolution is critical.
Massachusetts CIO Curt Wood is eager to explore ways new technologies can be incorporated into the enterprise, but current procurement processes aren’t set up to easily adapt to new vendors offering the latest tech.
Mississippi Chief Information Officer Craig Orgeron explains why moving services to the cloud is a priority for his state, and why their decentralized IT structure means they can then offer services to more agencies.
After Minnesota’s custom-built driver and vehicle system failed to successfully launch, the state opted to purchase a third-party system that CIO Tarek Tomes describes as the right choice going forward.
Ron Guerrier leads the relatively new Innovation and Technology Department, but before he can get to work on the technology stack, he has to establish a cohesive departmental culture and understand existing processes.
West Virginia CTO Josh Spence on why tech chiefs need to be cautious when taking on new projects if they do not serve a greater purpose for the organization, and how that plays into the state’s resiliency.
At the annual NASCIO conference in Nashville, Ohio Chief Information Officer Ervan Rodgers talked about why teamwork is key for IT resiliency and how he generates collaboration across the state enterprise.
Wisconsin CIO David Cagigal is committed to the mainframe, at least for the next couple years. His challenge is making sure agencies are on the same page about the timing of their exit strategies.
State CIO Shawn Riley is a strong proponent for looking at technologies on the bleeding edge and how they can benefit government and citizens alike, as long as they are used for the benefit of all.
CIO Stephanie Dedmon is looking forward to the soft launch of an application in December that will streamline the services offered by several agencies. Five agencies will spearhead the rollout, with more to follow.
At the NASCIO Annual Conference, Arkansas Chief Information Officer Yessica Jones explained how her state’s data center consolidation has set the stage for making smart choices about what’s going to the cloud.
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers is holding its annual conference — and celebrating its 50th anniversary — by convening state CIOs to crowdsource the most pressing concerns in government IT.
In light of a recent audit that found widespread lack of cybersecurity compliance among agencies, CIO Craig Orgeron discusses the importance of regular maintenance for both people and systems to keep Mississippi secure.
Acknowledging a surge in “malicious traffic” a few weeks ago, Maine Chief Information Officer Fred Brittain outlines his layered strategy for managing cyberthreats in his small state.
At NASCIO, Commonwealth Chief Information Officer Chuck Grindle explained that there are three elements of his strategy to make Kentucky and its technology as resilient as possible in the years ahead.
Plus, Toyota’s mobility play at the Olympics, a high-tech virtual reality technique that could reduce the need for multiple heart surgeries and the perhaps surprising case for building a bigger microchip.
Plus, a company partnering with IBM to use AI to stop wildfires before they burn out of control, and the Canadian government plans to put $600 million toward low Earth orbit satellites over the next decade.
Michael Leahy, Maryland Secretary of Information Technology, explains his approach to cybersecurity, the challenges of competing with the private sector for tech talent and how he’s handling privacy concerns.
Plus, artificial intelligence and deep learning technologies may help doctors diagnose and treat patients suffering from glaucoma, and the number of smartphones in the world surpasses the human population.
Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver explains the importance of good governance, repeatable business processes and a move to Microsoft Office 365 that will be a crucial first step toward all-around efficiency.
Montana Chief Information Officer Tim Bottenfield outlines five things he wants the State Information Technology Services Division to focus on as they work to expand services for both agencies and citizens alike.
Kansas Chief Information Technology Officer Lee Allen explains how, in addition to implementing agency-level security, he gives his CISO the autonomy he needs to protect the enterprise at large.
New Jersey Chief Data and Privacy Officer Carrie Parikh explains how she’s working to standardize protocols for keeping citizen data safe across the state enterprise while also incorporating emerging tech.
William Chumley talks about how his work in Colorado IT drives efficiency across the state by ensuring that tech is an effective part of the work agencies are doing to improve the citizen experience.
CIO Mike Hussey talks about how the state is looking to streamline customer-facing processes like the transfer of vehicle ownership, as well as internal methods of screening for potential fraud and identity theft.
State CIOs discussed not only the risk-taking and strategy involved in making major enterprise-wide changes, but also the people skills and communication tools necessary to create transformation.
Washington, D.C.’s Chief Technology Officer Lindsey Parker says running an effective IT shop relies on good people, strong cyberdefenses and an eye toward bolstering the workforce for the future.
From breaking long-held processes to capitalizing on the benefits of faster networks, Colorado Chief Information Officer Theresa Szczurek shared the challenges and opportunities facing her state.
The midyear gathering of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers kicked off today with state technology leaders discussing their crucial relationships with the private sector.
Maryland CIO Michael Leahy said that while updating the way citizens interact with government is a high priority, issues around keeping personal data secure must also be addressed to make any system truly efficient.
Plus, Google expands to 24 U.S. states with a $13 billion investment, Audi’s new vehicle-to-infrastructure tech helps drivers hit only green lights, and smart crosswalks could help reduce pedestrian fatalities.
CIO, Dublin, Ohio
Plus France fines Google $57 million for violating Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation laws, and Microsoft expands its Code Jumper software to teach visually impaired students basic coding skills.
In the role of chief technology officer since June, Christopher Rein describes the challenges he sees around modernizing legacy systems and striking a balance between implementing current and emerging tech.
Outgoing Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner named Chief Technology Officer Jack King to serve as the state’s interim CIO starting with the new year. King brings nearly three decades of private-sector experience to the position.
Plus, a university café sells students coffee in exchange for their personal data, and a team of researchers at NYU have created artificial fingerprints that accurately imitate real biometric IDs.
At the NASCIO conference in San Diego last month, Maine Chief Data Officer Youri Assi Antonin discussed his plans to implement internal data controls and contribute to the digital transformation of the state.
Multi-sourcing in Texas, Indiana's data-driven opioid strategy, a unified citizen experience in Tennessee and powering through procurement pain points: highlights from state IT leaders at NASCIO.
The 2018 Deloitte-NASCIO Cybersecurity Study found that while CISOs are gaining a real foothold in state government, there remain key areas where progress can still be made.
CIO Stephanie Dedmon says it’s not enough simply to modernize — new IT projects must be in the state’s best interests.
Chief Technology Officer David McCurdy on some of the major initiatives the state has recently completed.
Arizona CIO Morgan Reed on how his agency is developing single sign-on to protect against cyberattacks and make government easier to use.
At the annual NASCIO conference in San Diego, Indiana Chief Privacy Officer Ted Cotterill talks about the CPO’s place in the C-suite.
Described by CIO Nelson Moe as “groundbreaking” in 2005, the commonwealth has severed its relationship with its former mega-contractor that limited Virginia’s agility in meeting today’s IT needs.
Plus, Molar Mic two-way communication, and the next generation of health trackers.
Given the promise of speeds 100 times faster than today’s, 5G providers have the ear of policymakers. But is it realistic in states like Nebraska?
Plus, Uber hits a milestone, and the potential effects of climate change on high-speed Internet.
Nevada CIO Michael Dietrich shares the advice he would give to a state agency faced with a cybersecurity breach.
Tennessee Deputy CIO Stephanie Dedmon discusses the ongoing process of modernizing legacy systems.
Acting Illinois CIO Kirk Lonbom weighs in on the importance of change management and preparing for a retirement wave.
Deputy Chief Information Officer Dan DeBartolo discusses the state’s approach to cybersecurity in the wake of recent high-profile ransomware attacks.
While fiber and broadband are often discussed as the best ways to get Internet to underconnected communities, Kentucky CIO Charles Grindle considers skipping those options altogether.
For CIO Sharon Kennedy Vickers, residents are at the heart of St. Paul's IT goals.
Acting CIO Kirk Lonbom is prioritizing the unification of all IT in the state.
Plus, Norway's EV market hits a new high, Carnegie Mellon offers a degree in artificial intelligence and New York City police will instruct citizens how they can obtain body-cam footage.
Going against the FBI's ransomware advice is one way state chief information officers are thinking for themselves.
CIO Dewand Neely is standing up new processes that cast the state’s big technology projects as investments.
Deputy CIO Dan DeBartolo has his eye on several technologies with potential to improve connectivity in the country’s largest state.
Many CIOs want to get rid of legacy technology like the mainframe. Florida CIO Eric Larson explains how the state's workforce situation is forcing the issue.
In Tennessee, Deputy CIO Stephanie Dedmon is putting the elements in place to enable data and analytics to truly benefit state operations.
Texas Chief Information Officer Todd Kimbriel explains his approach to ransomware in light of recent attacks on the public sector.
State Chief Information Officer Charles Grindle talks about what Kentucky is up against when it comes to its IT workforce, and what they’re doing about it.
State CIO Darryl Ackley on the challenges of modernizing infrastructure and getting to the next big thing in gov tech.
Chief Information Officer Eric Larson talks about Florida’s plans to work on how the Agency for State Technology manages data to realize better outcomes across the state.
Chief Information Officer Yessica Jones outlines the many benefits the state hopes to achieve by consolidating its data center environment.
For Indiana Chief Information Officer Dewand Neely, securing state agencies is more than just an IT problem.
In afternoon sessions at the NASCIO Midyear conference earlier this week, state IT leaders broke into groups to tackle issues both timely and timeless.
North Carolina Chief Information Officer Eric Boyette talks about recruiting “a new wave” of IT employees.
By designing with the user in mind, websites and other technology tools can come out working better.
Monday's programming dove deep into top-of-mind issues for state CIOs.
Kentucky CIO Charles Grindle weighs in at the NASCIO Midyear conference on what he’d tell an agency confronting ransomware.
CIO Ed Toner talks about how the state is taking stock of applications now that consolidation is out of the way.
The IT community loves to talk about driving change and innovative ideas, but achieving those goals often falls flat without a change in perspective.
Plus, Germany doubles its number of EV chargers, a small restaurant hires a robot and Apple Maps improves its bike-sharing services.
CIO, Utah
Plus, South Australia creates the world's largest virtual power plant, and Amazon solves the problem of accidental Alexa wakes.
Plus, the cost savings of electric vehicles, and "living" temporary tattoos.
Plus, the world's tallest wind turbine begins construction in Germany, and Alexa learns Japanese.
In the wake of September’s Equifax breach, CIO Todd Kimbriel talks about how to securely represent Texans digitally.
The Indiana CIO explains a recent move to a more modern, no-offices workspace for his workforce.
Chief Data Officer Darshan Shah discusses how Indiana works to get data to out of government silos and into the hands of groups that can use it.
With protection from cyberthreats an ever-present concern for IT leaders at all levels, five states presented their approaches at NASCIO's annual conference in Austin.
The second full day of programming takes deep dives into top-of-mind issues for CIOs.
At NASCIO's annual conference, Minnesota CIO Tom Baden and Idaho Chief Procurement Officer Sarah Hilderbrand talked best practices in procurement, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building.
The 2017 National Association of State CIOs survey examines how the job of chief information officer is changing in response to emerging technology and new business models.
The state’s Chief Data Officer Darshan Shah discusses his approach to using IT to improve citizen well-being.
At NASCIO's annual conference, five CIOs were given five minutes each to revisit their respective priorities and make recommendations based on their own experiences.
State CIOs gather in Texas to share ideas and create new relationships.
Plus, social media grows as a news source, and an app to help protect your smartphone PIN.
Plus, the frightening amount of e-waste generated annually worldwide, and artificial intelligence helps protect against drowsy driving.
The first-place winners in this year's survey don't deploy technology for technology's sake.
