Workforce & People
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Melissa Scott was a veteran of Philadelphia IT before taking the lead as CIO in 2024. Her experience gave her insight into how the city should approach new technologies to best support staff and residents. -
In 2025, the state launched its Frontier Stable Token and advanced system modernization; in 2026, the IT team will build on that foundation to leverage technologies like AI while building trust.
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Plus, during the State of the Net conference, officials discussed broadband funding proposals and the importance of AI-supporting communications infrastructure; new state bills address broadband; and more.
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State Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole will remain under her administration, Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill said. Outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy, meanwhile, signed a bill affirming the New Jersey Innovation Authority.
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Heidi Norman, who has served as permanent CIO of Pittsburgh since 2022, and in other roles with the city since 2017, has departed at the request of the city’s incoming mayoral administration.
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Rex Menold is Michigan's new chief security officer for the state, which has recently seen several IT leadership changes and is seeking its next chief technology officer.
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EY, the global accounting and consulting firm, wants to provide “peer learning” and other educational services to public agency tech leaders. They face a potentially turbulent new year, given upcoming elections.
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State leaders prioritized AI advancement in 2025; CIO Alberto Gonzalez said it will help support being efficient and improved service delivery for residents. Onboarding staff has been greatly quickened.
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Eric Swanson, who leads the Michigan Center for Shared Solutions, will concurrently serve as the state’s acting chief information officer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday. Clark has been state CIO since 2021.
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Washington state's most populous city has tapped Lisa Qian as its inaugural city AI officer. Her experience is largely in the private sector, including data-focused leadership roles for LinkedIn and Airbnb.
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The state began recruiting this week for a chief technology officer after Alex Pettit, who formerly held the position, returned to Oregon state government for a role in digital transformation.
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Craig Hopkins, the Texas city’s technology leader of eight years, will retire in early 2026. Officials are mounting a recruitment for a new CIO to oversee a department with more than 340 staff.
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Officials are prepping for long-term technology needs, state CIO Matthew McCarville said, with efforts including a statewide IT apprenticeship program and a strong foundation in cybersecurity.
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The United States Tech Force is being led by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to recruit and train technologists for service across multiple federal agencies. It is structured as a two-year program.
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In 2025, state IT focused on resilience — including recovery from a significant cybersecurity incident — and technology modernization with the CORE.NV project, setting the stage for continued progress next year.
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The need to be connected is driving IT work across the state, from progress on a broadband expansion milestone to an interoperable radio network to collaborating with agencies to support their service delivery.
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The new executive will lead the state’s artificial intelligence and machine learning strategy as the Department of Innovation and Technology builds out a formal AI office.
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State CIO Bryanna Pardoe was previously the inaugural director of the state’s digital experience office. That work is shaping her approach to leading state IT and driving human-centered design.
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Holly Drake, the state chief information security officer, will join the University of Central Florida as its CISO. She was recognized for her work this fall by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.
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Daniel Rister, a 26-year veteran of Cumberland County government, has been named its permanent chief innovation and technology services director after serving on an interim basis for about four months.
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Pamela McKnight will serve as the city’s inaugural chief AI officer. Officials first announced plans to hire a CAIO and build out an AI team earlier this year, powered by a $2 million budget expansion.
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