Workforce and People

Louisiana’s capital city is looking for its next top technology exec as CIO Eric Romero prepares to depart. He has served three decades in its IT division and has been its director since 2012.

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.

A new resource from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration offers states guidance on how to use federal funding to support AI literacy training in the workforce.

The Silicon Valley city has selected four startup companies — building AI-driven solutions ranging from maternal health to food waste reduction — from more than 170 applicants to receive grants and professional support.

Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier said enrollment last year was at its highest point since 2013, and the colleges are working to integrate AI into various learning programs.

Montana has joined a series of states, with its decision to dedicate an executive position to leading on artificial intelligence strategy and advancing the ethical implementation of the technology.

Some new terms are becoming popular in tech and cybersecurity careers, along with some unsettling workplace trends around burnout and fear of layoffs as AI gains ground in both the public and private sectors.

A private liberal arts college in Pennsylvania is offering 28 microcredentials, or digital badges that indicate acquired skills, in fields like AI engineering, game design and cybersecurity risk analysis.

L.A. CIO Ted Ross and L.A. County CIO Peter Loo talked about the financial realities their organizations face, at the Los Angeles Digital Government Summit. Real-world solutions to real-world problems, they said, are key.

The person selected will be charged with overseeing digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and enterprise systems. The city IT director is responsible for the strategic operational direction of all municipal IT.

Noting demand for the field and nearby technology and defense companies, university officials said the new program this fall will make cybersecurity careers more attainable to dual-enrolled and junior college students.

The city has launched its Information Technology Management Academy, adding to an expanding group of gov tech education programs. CIOs helped to craft the program, which runs through October.

Their initiative will make available a new platform combining AI tools, labor market data and student input. It’s intended to help University of Hawaii graduates identify job opportunities and start their careers within the state.

Martha Wewer, the state’s new chief privacy officer, and Jennifer Fix, its new deputy CISO, bring more than 30 years of combined experience to their new roles. They will work closely with state CISO Bernice Russell-Bond.

The order from Gov. Greg Gianforte directs the state labor department to expand AI training opportunities, integrate such tools to support job seekers, and support small businesses’ AI integrations.

The state’s Department of Labor and Industry is funding a new 14-week paid apprenticeship program in six Pennsylvania local governments, in an effort to address the workforce demand for cybersecurity analysts.

Holly Hartell, who was most recently the assistant CIO for strategic initiatives, is the county’s new permanent CIO. She has served as acting director of the Department of Technology Services since January.

I spoke at the Black Hat Conference in Las Vegas for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what I learned and a few takeaways to share.