Workforce and People

The veteran executive and former state chief information officer announced that he will “return home to Oregon” after several years as chief technology officer for Colorado.

Chief Data Officer Jason Lally, who had been in state service for a total of about four years, announced he has departed from the role. Gov. Gavin Newsom had appointed him to the position in June 2024.

As state and local agencies worry about cybersecurity budget cuts and increased attacks, public officials and researchers try to build a network to boost digital defenses. Leaders of the effort discuss their aims.

The University of Texas at San Antonio's Cyber Range is part of the city's $200 million Ready to Work program, but only 316 of 741 people who've completed the IT or cybersecurity training have gotten jobs in the industry.

From recruiting via social media and college internships to integrating AI into the workplace, public-sector IT agencies are finding new ways to recruit and retain the next generation of government professionals.

Hawaii’s Christine Sakuda has been on the job for just more than a year, and during the recent NASCIO conference, she talked about opportunities, budget worries and potentially reduced services.

The stigma once associated with jobs that don’t require four-year degrees is eroding, and institutions like Minnesota State are seeing growth in areas such as manufacturing, cybersecurity and information technology.

Starting in February, CyberCorps program recruits received cancellation notices for work offers at agencies like NASA, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Defense Contract Management Agency.

Officials have extended the availability of Google’s Gemini platform to nearly 43,000 state employees. So far, around 12,500 are actively using its generative AI features in government work.

The 2025 Fall Cybersecurity Summit at Thiel College in Pennsylvania last week involved a variety of speakers on three different panels focused on industry, education and military and government affairs.

A public community college in Illinois will use grants from the National Science Foundation to coordinate AI workshops for faculty across disciplines and create a cybersecurity toolkit for college employees.

The Colorado Office of Information Technology empowers government accessibility through its Technology Accessibility Program, which includes initiatives such as the Lived Experiences Library.

The new Coaching Lab will test and scale evidence-based coaching methods to retain students and keep them on track as colleges and workforce programs face skepticism and tougher job prospects for graduates.

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers has announced its executive leadership for the program year ahead, while also welcoming new directors to its Executive Committee.

Memphis, Tenn., Deputy CIO Augustine Boateng said that as cyber threats become more sophisticated, AI-powered tools can help local government keep up.

Expanding Denver CIO Suma Nallapati's role to include AI, both in title and scope, is intended to support the advancement of the technology within government operations to better meet residents' needs.

Plus, North Carolina has set standards for digital literacy, Alabama has launched a workforce initiative to improve digital skills, Massachusetts is investing $23 million to expand device access, and more.

Harford County Public Schools will use a state grant to expand their partnership with Defense Interns, which gives students access to registered apprenticeships that combine classwork with hands-on experience.