Workforce and People

Nearly a month after Aaron Bentley left his role as Salt Lake City CIO to take a position with the state of Utah, the City Council appointed Zach Posner, now-former CIO for Salt Lake County, as his successor.

Less than three weeks after the resignation of state CIO Greg Lane, Delaware is recruiting its next technology leader. The person selected will oversee a yearly operating budget of more than $100 million.

Among the recommendations from last year’s audit was creating a high-level management role to oversee tech. The city’s inaugural CIO is its now-former director of digital services.

Amid a wave of IT leadership promotions, the state lifted the acting tag from four total positions, the others being executive deputy CIO, chief of staff to the CIO and executive director of CODE PA.

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, how can public-sector teams prepare organizationally for the next generation of cyber attacks and equip themselves with the right tools?

Gov. Mikie Sherrill has appointed Kevin Dehmer, the now-former state education commissioner, as the state’s new chief technology officer. Longtime CTO Chris Rein’s last day was Friday.

Bryce Bailey, deputy state CISO, has been tapped to be interim CISO in the Cornhusker State following the departure of Abby Eccher-Young. The state is also looking to hire a new chief data officer.

Melissa Scott was a veteran of Philadelphia IT before taking the lead as CIO in 2024. Her experience gave her insight into how the city should approach new technologies to best support staff and residents.

Rein, who has been in place since May 2018, was the state’s second standalone CTO and its former deputy chief information security officer. Vernon Spencer, state chief operating officer, will step in as interim CTO.

Following a turbulent year in cybersecurity, the state Governor’s Technology Office is seeking to hire a new cybersecurity lead to manage risk and compliance. Nevada’s permanent CISO retired in May 2025.

Kyle Guerrant takes over for Michelle Lange, who is set to step down to take a job in the private sector. The state CIO departed in December for a technology role at Michigan State University.

An upcoming event at Penn State Berks will host small- and medium-sized manufacturers and technology professionals interested in networking and learning about how AI is poised to change their industry.

Siwei Lyu, a computer science professor and expert on AI-generated media like deepfakes, will lead the University at Buffalo's Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

Hassan Janjua will join the city in February as its inaugural CIO, following an “organizational realignment.” Its technology department was previously helmed by the director of IT.

The impending departures on the same day in March, of Alameda County’s CIO and assistant CIO, will close a chapter in the local government’s technology history. Both have been in place since 2012.

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.

Google has given money to support STEM education at Glenwood Community School District, apprenticeships at Iowa Western Community College and IT boot camps at Avenue Scholars Southwest Iowa, among other programs.