The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) confirmed to Industry Insider — Texas that Crawford is not expected to retain her role as executive director of DIR, where she has served since 2019. In an emailed statement provided by the agency, Crawford said:
“I am deeply honored and humbled that Governor Greg Abbott has appointed me as Texas insurance commissioner. I am grateful for his trust, and I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of the people of Texas in advancing the mission of the Texas Department of Insurance. Serving as the executive director of the Texas Department of Information Resources and chief information officer for the state of Texas since 2019 has been the most rewarding chapter of my career to date. I am extremely proud of what we have built at DIR and how we have served Texas. I am confident I am leaving a strong agency with an exceptional leadership team that will continue to deliver for Texas.”
A DIR spokesperson said transition plans will be announced in the coming days.
Crawford’s move comes as DIR is reshaping its portfolio and responsibilities amid a broader statewide reorganization of cybersecurity and a push into artificial intelligence and innovation services. The agency oversees statewide procurement vehicles, data center services, cloud offerings and strategic technology initiatives for more than 500 public organizations, including state agencies, higher education institutions and local governments. For fiscal year 2026, DIR is operating under a $779 million budget, including $9.3 million designated for IT capital projects, and has cited priorities ranging from shared services modernization to vendor management and accessibility improvements in statewide digital services.
DIR’s operating environment has also been influenced by the launch of Texas Cyber Command, which state leaders have described as a major overhaul of the state’s cybersecurity posture. DIR is expected to shift focus toward its Innovation Lab and new AI Division as the Cyber Command absorbs and expands all existing cybersecurity personnel and resources.
As commissioner of insurance, Crawford will lead the agency responsible for regulating the state’s insurance industry and overseeing licensing of insurers and agents, reviewing rates and policy forms, enforcing consumer protection laws and coordinating insurance-related disaster response. The agency also includes the Division of Workers’ Compensation and plays a key role in monitoring the financial solvency of insurers operating in Texas.
Before joining DIR, Crawford spent 14 years in various roles at the Texas Office of the Attorney General, including serving as deputy attorney general for administration and general counsel. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin.
With DIR leadership transition plans expected soon, Crawford’s departure comes as the agency advances new contract models and technology initiatives while vendors continue tracking how the state’s evolving structure will shape procurement strategy, cybersecurity alignment and the rollout of AI-enabled services.
This story originally appeared in Industry Insider — Texas, which is part of e.Republic, Government Technology’s parent company.
