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Arkansas CTO Mark Myers Resigns

The details surrounding Arkansas’ abrupt IT leadership changes are few, but what is clear is that a recent forced resignation signals a potential shift in the state’s direction.

Arkansas Department of Information Systems (DIS) Director and Chief Technology Officer Mark Myers submitted his resignation letter to the governor’s office last week, signaling the beginning of a shift in the administration’s IT approach.

Myers, who was initially tapped to lead DIS by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in January 2015, was reportedly asked by the governor to resign from the post on Nov. 23. Myers declined to speak with Government Technology, but said that when he is ready to speak on the matter, he will reach out.

Though the details surrounding Myer’s departure from the state are being carefully guarded by the Hutchinson administration, Communications Director J. R. Davis confirmed to Government Technology that he was asked to resign and has since been replaced by the agency’s deputy director, Yessica Jones. 

“Mark Myers submitted his resignation to my office this morning [Nov. 23]. I appreciate Mark’s service to our state and wish him well in his career. In the meantime, I am appointing Yessica Jones as interim director of DIS,” Hutchinson said in a statement provided by Davis.

Jones, who was appointed to the DIS deputy post in January 2016, formerly served as the governor’s outreach liaison.  

Before his appointment to the DIS directorship, Myers served as the director of strategic initiatives for the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office, a position he had held since 2011. 

On his LinkedIn profile, Myers lists ongoing work with the 318th Tactical Psychological Operations Company and the Rendon Group, a communications consultancy.

Eyragon Eidam is the web editor for Government Technology magazine, after previously serving as assistant news editor and covering such topics as legislation, social media and public safety. He can be reached at eeidam@erepublic.com.