The CIO's Agenda

Amid an overall growth projection for the market of more than $160 billion, government IT leaders at the Beyond the Beltway conference confront a tough budget picture, with some seeing AI as part of the solution.

Lawmakers in the Magnolia State are considering bills to make the state CIO a cabinet member, mirroring a national trend of CIOs evolving from tech managers to enterprise leaders — and to create a cybersecurity department.

State CIO Kristin Darby describes the search for an agentic, auditable enterprise resource planning system, and why 2026 marks a shift from incremental upgrades to exponential change across state technology.

Colorado state CIO David Edinger recounted progress the state made to improve digital services in 2025, including identity management, digital equity, accessibility and AI. He also revealed what’s ahead in 2026.

Amid all the attention around AI, Mississippi CIO Craig Orgeron said his state is focused on building the foundations state government needs to scale emerging technologies into 2026.

CIO Shawnzia Thomas decodes why "cyber discipline" drives AI, modernization, and trust in Georgia’s 2026 tech agenda, and how cyber resilience is achievable through digital literacy and upskilling.

Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Crawford to serve as insurance commissioner for a term of about one year. Her replacement as state CIO and executive director of the Department of Information Resources is developing.

IT infrastructure resilience, like modernization and citizen engagement, is an ongoing endeavor for officials in South Dakota, according to state CIO Mark Wixon — and one that intersects much other technology work.

State leaders prioritized AI advancement in 2025; CIO Alberto Gonzalez said it will help support being efficient and improved service delivery for residents. Onboarding staff has been greatly quickened.

In 2025, state IT focused on resilience — including recovery from a significant cybersecurity incident — and technology modernization with the CORE.NV project, setting the stage for continued progress next year.

The need to be connected is driving IT work across the state, from progress on a broadband expansion milestone to an interoperable radio network to collaborating with agencies to support their service delivery.

State leadership has been working on key IT initiatives in 2025, from a digital ID project to a customer experience initiative to bolstering their cybersecurity approach. That work is expected to advance in 2026.

The city’s new request for information invites innovators — from startups to major tech firms — to apply artificial intelligence solutions to city operations, public access and transparency challenges.

Elyse Rosenberg, who transitioned from interim CIO to permanent earlier this year, is leveraging decades of technology experience to shape a strategic vision for accessible, trustworthy digital services.

Jeffrey Weiner has taken the helm of the town’s IT department, overseeing GIS, media and strategic IT initiatives. He arrives from Wakefield Public Schools, where he served as its technology director.

Artificial intelligence pilots, application modernization and stronger cyber defenses are reshaping how residents connect with government, CIO Nathan Hogue said. An AI-powered virtual assistant will debut next week.

From cloud migration and modernizing legacy systems to expanding broadband and piloting AI tools, the state is taking a practical approach to technology strategy. The CIO’s highest priority is moving off mainframe.

State CIO David Edinger on the benefits of a mostly remote workforce, where he's seeing traction with generative AI, and the challenges of creating a unified identity and access management platform.