Like so many of his peers, Acting Missouri CIO Rich Kliethermes cited cybersecurity as his first priority when we caught up with him at the
NASCIO Midyear conference earlier this year. He pointed to progress the state has made in the area of cybersecurity, backed by investments from the Legislature in a robust
cyberawareness program.
But that's far from the only issue on the agenda for Kliethermes and the larger Missouri IT operation. Application modernization continues on an ongoing basis, as legacy systems are updated to bring new efficiencies internally and enhance service delivery to the citizens of the state.
Modernization projects in progress or nearing completion in Missouri are some major ones: a new Medicaid eligibility system and an unemployment insurance system upgrade, as well as a new labor exchange system, described by Kliethermes as a jobs bank for state citizens.
"The list can go on and on — big, small ... truly every team that I have across our 14 executive departments is working on modernization of some type," he said.
Noelle Knell is the executive editor for e.Republic, responsible for setting the overall direction for e.Republic’s editorial platforms, including Government Technology, Governing, Industry Insider, Emergency Management and the Center for Digital Education. She has been with e.Republic since 2011, and has decades of writing, editing and leadership experience. A California native, Noelle has worked in both state and local government, and is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with majors in political science and American history.
