Arlington County, Va., Names Longtime Exec Its Permanent CIO

Arlington County has tapped longtime executive Holly Hartell to serve as its next CIO and director of the Department of Technology Services (DTS). Monday was her first official day in the new role, though she has served as acting DTS director since January.

Hartell has been with Arlington County since 2006, starting as a technology consultant and later managing the implementation and maintenance of PRISM — the county’s integrated financial and human resources system — for six years. She went on to hold other technology leadership roles, most recently serving as assistant CIO for strategic initiatives. In that position, she focused on making sure technology investments were in line with Arlington’s strategic goals, improving services for residents and advancing projects in digital equity and “smart” community initiatives.

Before joining Arlington, Hartell worked for management and technology consulting firm BearingPoint, advising higher education and local government clients on Oracle financial systems and business process improvements.

Hartell’s track record made her a strong choice, County Manager Mark Schwartz said in a news release.

“In nearly two decades of service to Arlington County, Holly has consistently driven innovation and alignment across initiatives, ensuring departments have the technology support and strategic guidance they need,” Schwartz wrote. “Her extensive experience and understanding of our organization make her the ideal person to lead us forward in the expanding and evolving area of technology.”

Hartell succeeds Norron Lee as Arlington County CIO. Government Technology spoke with Lee last year after the county earned first place in the 2024 Government Experience Awards, and he highlighted a central priority: expanding AI-powered customer service bots to reduce wait times and give residents quicker access to answers.

Hartell will now oversee that customer service project, in addition to all IT operations, cybersecurity, data privacy, telecommunications, infrastructure, enterprise applications and other emerging technologies.

She expressed her enthusiasm to continue shaping how Arlington uses technology to serve residents, in a statement.

“I am excited for the opportunity to serve in this position because I am passionate about what we do in Arlington County,” she said. “I believe in the important role technology plays in bringing high-quality, accessible service to our diverse community. I look forward to building on my professional relationships to ensure Arlington remains on the forefront of digital innovation while ensuring it is done so in a responsible and secure manner.”