Norman first started serving as the city’s acting CIO in 2020 following the departure of former CIO Santiago Garces. By 2022, officials made her role as CIO and director of the Department of Innovation and Performance permanent. During her time as CIO, she prioritized data governance and modernization of IT infrastructure in an effort to improve the delivery of city services.
The reason for Norman’s departure is that the incoming mayoral administration requested her resignation as CIO, she told Government Technology via email.
Her final day was Sunday, and Mayor Corey O’Connor’s administration began Monday. Elections can lead to CIO changes, even though both O’Connor and former Mayor Ed Gainey are members of the Democratic Party. Norman also worked alongside former Mayor Bill Peduto, whose tenure immediately preceded Gainey.
Prior to joining the city, Norman worked in the private sector for Qualaris Healthcare Solutions, Inc., and Imagine If Technology, according to LinkedIn. Upon stepping down, she will enter yet another new sector.
“I have accepted a position in higher education,” Norman said, adding that her new employer will publicly announce the move in early 2026.
She will start this new senior leadership role in March, according to her departure announcement, which she shared with connections in a LinkedIn post.
“With the talented team in the Dept. of Innovation and Performance, I established a robust technology governance program, replaced aging network infrastructure, invested significantly in training and development for staff, and modernized nearly every enterprise applications platform in use by municipal government,” Norman wrote in her post.
O’Connor has not yet formally announced whom he will select to serve as CIO, but he has announced Dan Gilman as his choice to serve as chief of staff, as reported by CBS News. Gilman has been serving as the chief of staff to Duquesne University President Ken Gormley, but previously held city government positions with Pittsburgh including a city council seat and a chief of staff position in the Peduto administration.
