Rein was appointed New Jersey’s second standalone chief technology officer in June 2018 by Gov. Phil Murphy, following a period in which the position had been held by a single official responsible for both chief information and chief technology officer roles. As CTO, Rein led NJOIT — which oversees the technology infrastructure for more than 50 state departments and agencies — focusing on modernization, cybersecurity and the delivery of digital services.
Before becoming CTO, Rein held senior cybersecurity roles with the state, including deputy director of the Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, and served as the state’s deputy chief information security officer. His professional history also includes executive technology positions in the private sector and senior IT roles with the New Jersey State Police.
During his tenure, Rein emphasized modernizing older government systems while balancing between operational needs and emerging technologies. In a past interview with Government Technology, he discussed the challenges of updating decades-old systems and the importance of integrating security and risk management into modernization efforts from the start.
Rein also played a role in statewide initiatives exploring AI in government. He co-chaired the state’s AI Task Force, which worked with public and private partners to study AI’s impact, governance and ethical considerations for its use in state government.
The CTO was recognized in 2025 as one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers, for a sober, responsible approach to IT that focused on essential infrastructure and enabled him to wield innovation with fiscal strategy to make the best use of AI.
Rein’s leadership spanned implementations of hybrid work technologies, cloud integration and efforts to achieve a more flexible IT infrastructure capable of adapting to rapid technological changes.
As New Jersey transitions to interim leadership under Spencer, Veffer reflected on the scope of Rein’s years as CTO, writing, “We are deeply grateful for his outstanding leadership and numerous contributions.”
