Combs is planning to retire from the CTESO position, according to the Agency of Digital Services Communication Strategist Chelsea Cockrell, who confirmed he is “expected to remain in the position through the hiring of his successor and support a smooth transition.” The precise timing is unclear.
The change follows nearly a decade of his leadership and a period of major evolution for the state’s technology operation. Combs has served as a senior tech leader since May 2017, shortly after Vermont created the Agency of Digital Services (ADS) to replace the Department of Information and Innovation and bring IT work across state government under one roof. At that time, his role was focused largely on building and maintaining the systems the state relied on every day.
But as the state’s technology needs expanded, so did the scope of his work. In addition to overseeing enterprise technology services, Combs began serving as co-chair of the Vermont Council on Artificial Intelligence in 2022, a group that examines how AI is being used in state government and advises the executive branch. His overall experience has spanned enterprise software, program management and statewide service operations.
That broadening of responsibilities was formalized last year when Combs’ title changed from chief technology officer to chief technology and enterprise services officer. The change, according to ADS, was tied directly to how the agency itself is organized.
In an email, Cockrell described ADS as “fully centralized,” with responsibility for all state technology and contracts, and said the transition from CTO to the CTESO title was designed to match that structure, with the role continuing to report to the CIO.
While earlier technology leadership roles were largely focused on infrastructure, she said, “today’s enterprise ecosystem — shaped by cloud computing, AI and shared digital platforms — requires dedicated leadership focused on execution and service delivery.” In practical terms, the CTESO is responsible for how technology services operate day to day across the state, while the CIO continues to set overall strategy and policy.
The state’s search for Combs’ successor marks the next chapter in that progression. An ADS LinkedIn posting about the recruitment indicates Vermont is seeking a “visionary technology leader” who will “drive statewide technology strategy, innovation and operational excellence.” The application deadline is Feb. 19.
