Workforce and People

Skyrocketing unemployment nationwide last spring revealed how ill-prepared states were to get aid to workers in an emergency. Now governors and lawmakers in many states have proposed fixing ancient computer systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced students to adapt to new classroom technologies and learning platforms, but educators are skeptical the experience will translate to job skills later in life.

The Hoosier Talent Network, built out of a partnership between the state of Indiana and Eightfold AI, will help jobseekers find fitting employment with a little help from artificial intelligence.

On March 9, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his choice of Clare Martorana to serve as this administration’s federal chief information officer (CIO) and the administrator of the Office of Electronic Government.

Vitaliy Panych, who took over as the state’s chief information security officer in January, discussed broad-level IT and cybersecurity issues and goals, working with security partners and best practices during a recent virtual event.

Mark Quimby, deputy director for technology and operations at Washington Technology Solutions, has been named acting director and state CIO by Governor Jay Inslee following James Weaver’s departure.

Gov. Spencer Cox has nominated former Oracle executive Alan Fuller to serve as the chief information officer for the Utah Department of Technology Services. Fuller replaces Mike Hussey, who left the post in January.

After stepping down as digital services chief for the city of San Rafael, Calif., Woodbury is continuing her work at her new company, Department of Civic Things. Her focus: Helping small jurisdictions change.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has named WaTech CIO James Weaver to serve as the state’s new IT chief. This is not the first cross-country move for Weaver, who has also served Pennsylvania state government.

Colorado's IT department has tapped Anthony Sean Martinez, who most recently served as a director in the U.S. Department of State, as the second-ever executive director of the state's Broadband Office.

Laura Clark has been named the state’s permanent chief security officer, after holding the position in an interim capacity since last summer. She replaces Chris DeRusha, who worked on the Biden campaign and is now the federal CISO.

The company is following in the footsteps of Amazon Web Services, which went on a similar hiring spree last year. Microsoft has picked up four former state CIOs and one city CIO to fill various roles.

DeRusha, a cybersecurity official on Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and the former cybersecurity chief for the state of Michigan, has been appointed federal chief information security officer.

The 35-year-old executive has been acting CISO in the California Department of Technology for two years before his official appointment was announced late Tuesday afternoon.

A veteran of both local and state government, Goldberg is the latest in a string of state technology leaders whose career paths have landed them at the technology giant.

Plus, Code for America names Emily K. Tracy as chief revenue officer; the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge focuses on ideas stemming from COVID-19; City Innovate shares its STIR Lab partnerships; and more.

The North Carolina county chief information and innovation officer announced his plans to step down at the end of the month to join software company SAP as an industry executive advisor.

Patrick Moore, who served as Georgia's state CIO about 10 years ago under Gov. Sonny Perdue, is joining the gov tech company Granicus during a pandemic that has increased demand for its services.