Workforce and People

Agencies report that critical IT positions remain hard to fill, but finding the right people takes more than job postings. States are expanding intern and apprentice programs to train and retain talent.

Officials are working with InnovateUS to train public employees statewide on working with AI. Empowering people, CIO Shawnzia Thomas said, is a significant part of achieving digital transformation.

Lawson, who has cybersecurity experience in municipal, state and federal roles, has previously served as CISO and chief technology officer for Alaska, and as assistant CIO and CISO for the city of Phoenix.

The state’s acting CIO Bryanna Pardoe helmed its digital experience office until October. She has since been selected to lead technology efforts and serve as deputy secretary for information technology.

Tai Phan, who became Oklahoma’s chief technology officer in March, will now lead the state's efforts to expand responsible AI adoption and support agency innovation.

The state's capital city is looking for a new chief information officer to lead an information technology department of about two dozen now that its previous CIO, Randi Stahl, is no longer with the city.

The Nevada Legislature has approved Assembly Bill 1, which would affirm a statewide Security Operations Center and expand the cyber workforce. It now awaits Gov. Joe Lombardo’s signature.

Because artificial intelligence is always learning, its introduction in government means agencies must continually adapt as well, as must leaders who want to evolve their management styles.

Dent, who served as the chief information security officer of the state’s most populous county for more than two decades, is stepping down as of Friday. A new CISO has taken over cybersecurity efforts.

People are less worried about AI taking humans’ jobs than they once were, but introducing bots to the public-sector workplace has brought new questions around integration, ethics and management.

Returning to his home state of Oklahoma as its chief information security officer, Daniel Langley said he is focusing on agency collaboration, addressing vulnerabilities and strengthening security operations.

The nonprofit InsideTrack will offer coaching and data-driven insights to three Nebraska colleges, aiming to find out what prompts students to drop out and convince more than 3,000 of them to finish their degrees.

A new report examines state work on AI and highlights actions government leaders can take to help drive AI adoption, from equipping the workforce to fostering research in support of the technology’s use.

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.