Workforce & People
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A partnership between the North Carolina Department of IT and the Carolina Cyber Network is giving students real-world cyber defense experience while helping the state build up its workforce. -
Shawn Smith will step down this month as IT director for Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to join the Tennessee consolidated city-county as its permanent CIO. He replaces an interim CIO who has been in place since mid-2024.
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Lea Eriksen, who has been serving as director of the Department of Technology and Innovation for the Southern California city, will become the next senior assistant city manager in Culver City.
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Colin Ahern takes over as the state’s first director of security and intelligence. He brings two decades of Army, private-sector and public agency experience to the new job, which focuses on high-level risks.
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The career technologist, who has held leadership roles in IT from Arizona to Oregon and San Jose to Seattle, will depart the public sector this month to join the division of e.Republic.
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As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, how can public-sector teams prepare organizationally for the next generation of cyber attacks and equip themselves with the right tools?
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From San Jose, Calif., to Washington, D.C., cities are advancing AI training for staffers or members of the public. Mesa, Ariz., recently launched its own AI education initiative to support adoption.
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Officials have formally named Bryce Bailey the state’s chief information security officer, elevating him from the interim role after nearly a month in place. Cybersecurity, he said, “is a long game.”
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Elizabeth Crowe, the city’s director of urban analytics and innovation, has been selected to serve as interim chief innovation and technology officer, a role formerly held by Stephanie Wernet.
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Tekquell Watson has more than 25 years of military and federal experience, including senior technical and leadership roles. She will oversee technology operations across the consolidated city-county government.
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After more than eight years shaping the county’s technology direction and strategy, Mancini left the position earlier this month. During his tenure, he led a comprehensive modernization of legacy.
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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.
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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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The district has announced a new AI training requirement for all government employees and contractors, in an effort to guide the responsible daily use of the technology. It’s provided through InnovateUS.
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Mark Combs, Vermont’s inaugural chief technology and enterprise services officer, helped expand the scope of state digital services as his role changed. Officials are now seeking his successor.
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s choice to lead gov tech efforts in the Big Apple has more than three decades of heavyweight experience. Gelobter, a computer scientist, helped invent GIFs and worked on the Hulu launch team.
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Amy Tong, the former director of the California Department of Technology and state CIO for more than five years, was most recently senior counselor to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Her last day in the role was Jan. 31.
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Lee E. Micai, a longtime technologist in Mercer County government, has been named to the role, which he said entails responsibilities previously assigned to the head of IT. His tenure began last month.
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Tarek Tomes, who is also commissioner of Minnesota IT Services, will leave in mid-March for a tech role in higher education. When he does, Deputy Commissioner Jon Eichten will step in as interim CIO.
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The state’s recently arrived director of cyber operations will work closely with state Chief Information Security Officer Chris Gergen to build and manage statewide cybersecurity strategy and operations.
