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Rae D. DeShong

Rae D. DeShong is a Texas-based staff writer for Government Technology and a former staff writer for Industry Insider — Texas. She has worked at The Dallas Morning News and as a community college administrator.

Workforce & People

Ahead of a Departure, Oklahoma Seeks Its Next State CISO

Michael Toland, Oklahoma’s chief information security officer, will exit the position and officials have embarked upon a search for his replacement. State CIO Dan Cronin will oversee cybersecurity in the interim.

June 20, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Workforce & People

Data Will Be Key to IT Modernization for Aurora, Ill.

Local government should center its decisions on people’s needs, the city’s newly arrived CIO said. This means hearing from residents and staff alike, and doing more with the information at hand.

June 04, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Workforce & People

Dubuque, Iowa, CIO Balances AI, Security, Data Center Upgrade

Veteran city exec Joe Pregler was affirmed last month as permanent CIO. His official arrival comes amid work on AI governance, and a data center move aimed at improving resilience and integrating operations.

May 21, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Workforce & People

Interim in Place, Oklahoma City Seeks Next IT Director

W. Schad Meldrum has retired as IT director in the capital city after 25 years of public service. An interim has been elevated from within the organization, and leaders are considering his permanent replacement.

May 19, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Analytics

Virginia Integrates Its Data Governance Office, IT Agency

Administrative support for the Office of Data Governance and Analytics has moved to the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, in an effort to improve efficiency and further enable teamwork.

May 13, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Cybersecurity

Amid Cyber Attack Recovery, Kansas Courts Advance IT Work

State officials in Kansas have continued to modernize technology platforms and improve cybersecurity, even as they spearheaded a recovery from a 2023 ransomware attack against the judicial system.

May 07, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Civic Innovation

Dallas Poised to Launch New Planning, Permitting System

The city is readying DallasNow, a comprehensive planning, permitting and land management system intended to enhance efficiency, transparency and customer service in one of the nation’s most populous municipalities.

May 01, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Justice and Public Safety

Residents Connect to Oklahoma City Online Crime Reporting

A new system, powered by LexisNexis, lets Oklahoma City residents report nonemergency crimes to police online. More than 400 have logged reports since the platform made its debut April 1.

April 30, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers

Nikhil Deshpande

Chief Digital and AI Officer, Georgia

April 29, 2025
· Rae D. DeShong
Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers

Antonia Hernandez

Chief Data Officer, Texas Office of the Attorney General

Spring 2025
· Rae D. DeShong