Clines was appointed to serve as the state’s CIO in 2024, coming to the Equality State after serving as South Dakota’s CIO since April 2020. In South Dakota, his work prioritized improved processes and user experience. In Wyoming, he is focused largely on modernization — of technologies and the processes behind them.
Wyoming is taking on digital transformation initiatives to improve foundational state systems and processes, but with “a fraction of the budget” that other states have at their disposal, Clines said.
For example, in August, Wyoming launched the Frontier Stable Token, which became available for purchase in January. This cryptocurrency will support secure digital payment transactions.
The state is also working to advance digital identity management. In 2025, the state’s Department of Transportation (WYDOT) announced upgrades for its outdated Revenue Information System, launching a new software known as MAX, and its public-facing oneWYO platform. This transformation, Clines said, will modernize how the state does driver’s license and motor vehicle licensing services. The Legislature encouraged this shift as foundational to advancing verified digital credential work in the state, he said.
Another modernization initiative has taken hold with the Department of Family Services. The department is leveraging Salesforce to replace a legacy system that siloed data. Centralized data is already demonstrating value for the department, Clines said, indicating quality data is foundational, for AI can then be layered on top.
The state has been developing a new AI policy to support state agencies, he explained. Because of the rate at which AI is evolving, the state’s initial policy — before rolling out Google Gemini — had restrictions limiting employee use of the technology. Some agencies were initially hesitant to adopt the technology, Clines said, but IT leadership has since been working with them to support users, with training and education that has enabled a mindset shift.
“We want to encourage state employees to leverage AI, but we also want to make sure we’re reinforcing the accountability structure of it there,” Clines said. He wants to see AI used for employee productivity and for citizen interactions, the CIO said. Now, government employees are bringing forth new ideas for efficiency-driving AI use cases.
That is the CIO's focus with “the power of AI”: “It can make us more efficient at what we do.”
Efficiency is a focus not only for Wyoming government, but for many states following this trend of capital reductions. And this is the driving force for a lot of Wyoming's technology initiatives.
Wyoming’s 2026 legislative session began Feb. 9. IT initiatives rely heavily on the decisions made in the state Legislature that impact funding, but the agency’s goals for the years ahead are laid out in the Wyoming Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) 2026-2028 strategic plan.
This plan has five core themes: technology governance, foundational services, trusted partnerships, state resource stewardship and enhancing cybersecurity. The document emphasizes ETS’ vision to be the technology provider of choice for agencies, through which it aims to save the state money.
The plan does not markedly highlight AI technology, which is intentional, Clines explained: “AI is through everything.”
For example, cybersecurity is an area in which AI technology is shaping both offensive and defensive strategy. In Wyoming, the Cyber Assistance Response Effort (CARE) Team brings together representatives from different organizations including ETS, the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and the Wyoming National Guard. This team is pushing for a more proactive approach to cyber incident response, Clines said. Part of that includes offering resources to localities that may have limited capacity to manage cybersecurity.
The Wyoming Legislature’s 2026 session is still in progress, but Clines said that ETS focused on financial requests that support core IT services. These include citizen identity management and funding to improve internal and external communication systems.
“Can we get the Legislature to see ETS and my team as that strategic enabler, where they can see us not as just a cost structure, but as a partner in governing the spend — and especially the technology spend — in the state of Wyoming?” Clines said. This, he said, comes down to building trust.
If ETS can serve as a strategic technology adviser for the Legislature, Clines said IT leadership can build buy-in for investments in technology like AI — which could pay significant dividends in the long term.
Building trust with the Legislature is one piece of the IT puzzle; building it with state agencies is another key focus for Clines, in order to deliver clear value across Wyoming government.
“Because I think the foundation for any major technology innovation starts with a foundation of trust,” Clines said, “I want to be at the table to make sure we’re leveraging technology in the most effective and efficient manner.”
