Wyoming CISO Steps in as Interim CIO as TR Sheehan Departs

Wyoming Interim CIO TR Sheehan is stepping down from his role as the state’s technology leader — for the second time.
The veteran executive has been tapped to serve the Equality State as interim CIO twice: first in 2021, before Gov. Mark Gordon appointed former Alaska CIO Bill Vajda to lead Wyoming tech; and again when Vajda departed in 2022.

This time, however, Sheehan is leaving state employ after more than a decade. He will be moving to federal service, he said in an email, indicating he was unable to share further details. His last day as interim CIO will be Friday. Sheehan has more than two decades’ experience in IT, in government, education and the private sector.

Wyoming CISO Aaron Roberts will take on interim CIO duties in addition to his work as CISO starting Monday, while the governor's office seeks a permanent replacement.
“This decision comes after considerable reflection on my professional journey and personal goals for the future,” Sheehan wrote in his March 22 resignation letter, which he provided to Government Technology. He underscored his continued dedication to improving the state through technology: “I look forward to the opportunity to support the state in new ways.”

His considerable tenure with Wyoming meant Sheehan was able to “hit the ground running” during his second stint, he said in March. And during his tenure, he kept residents’ needs as a central priority in state technology work. He explained last month that from working with other agencies on tech-related initiatives to exploring emerging technologies, "education is key."

In Sheehan’s resignation letter, he expressed his commitment to share the knowledge he has gained in the role with his successor.

Roberts has headed up the state’s information security program since March 2022; and has been with the state since 2013. Prior to joining the Department of Enterprise Technology Services in February 2021 as interim information services administrator/field services manager, according to LinkedIn, he served two other state entities. Roberts was IT operations branch chief for the Department of Game and Fish for four years; and was director of the Information Management Division for the Department of Education for three years.

Roberts served in the U.S. Air Force and has a Master of Arts degree in computer resource and information management from Webster University.