Vermont

Some states are pulling back the curtain on their use of artificial intelligence in government, creating public inventories showing which agencies use AI, the types of systems and their potential impact on citizens.

Artificial intelligence and data leaders from Georgia, Maryland and Vermont shared their perspectives on successful AI governance in a GOVChats panel discussion. The environment, they said, is still in development.

John Toney, the new chief information security officer for the state of Vermont, replaces Scott Carbee, who stepped down in August to join the University of Vermont as ISO. Toney spent more than a decade at the U.S. Secret Service.

Vermont is revamping legacy IT systems, some of which are 50 years old, while also exploring uses for new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

At the NASCIO Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Vermont CIO Denise Reilly-Hughes explained how putting users at the center of tech projects results in better outcomes for both residents and state employees.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced the appointment of Denise Reilly-Hughes as secretary of the Agency of Digital Services; she will take the role former CIO Shawn Nailor held prior to retiring in June.

Backers think geothermal could power as much as 20% of the U.S. grid. A handful of states approved laws this year and others are considering measures that would provide money and regulations to help the industry.

Most Vermont state websites and some online services went down for 11 hours this week after a cable serving a third-party data center was cut. A similar incident happened in April.  

Agency of Digital Services Deputy Secretary Denise Reilly-Hughes will become interim CIO in July. She’ll focus on keeping momentum toward current goals and fostering stability after several leadership changes.

Shawn Nailor, CIO and secretary of the Vermont Agency of Digital Services, is retiring at the end of June. The agency's deputy secretary, Denise Reilly-Hughes, will step up as a temporary replacement.

A recent audit of six IT projects within the past two years found many were over budget or delayed. The state’s CIO, Shawn Nailor, acknowledged the findings, tempering them with the progress his relatively young agency has made in recent years.

Plus, Ohio launches a workforce program to support broadband deployment, New York aims to improve digital literacy for older adults, and more.

CIO Shawn Nailor outlines the new cross-agency cyber council Vermont hopes to establish this year that would support critical infrastructure like hospitals and utilities in the event of a cyber attack.

An Internet service provider’s fibers in Washington, D.C., were severed, downing the third-party data center that supports Vermont’s public-facing websites. The “unheard of” incident is prompting new resiliency talks.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has announced two leadership appointments: Shawn Nailor will take over as secretary and CIO of the Agency of Digital Services, while Denise Reilly-Hughes will serve as the agency’s deputy secretary.

John Quinn, head of Vermont’s Agency of Digital Services, has announced his impending departure from the role after five years, and will be taking on a position in the private sector with Government Sourcing Solutions.

Plus, Michigan's high-speed Internet office has hired its first chief connectivity officer, the Biden administration earmarks $10 million grants to expand broadband to minority communities, and more.