State Chief Information Officer Michael Cockrill, State of Washington, Profiled in NASCIO State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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Michael Cockrill, State Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) is making a difference for the state of Washington by transforming citizens’ experiences with government and making Washington state government IT an employer of choice.  
Through August 5, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will feature the work and accomplishments of Cockrill and WaTech in the State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign. Washington’s profile will specifically highlight the state’s efforts in privacy and cybersecurity and their workforce development initiatives to find and retain a cutting-edge technology workforce. 
“Our agency continues to make durable changes that help re-invent the everyday public service experience,” said Cockrill.  “Our goal is to simplify things for our customers by becoming easier to do business with while implementing continuous improvements in an ever-accelerating IT environment that demands rapid organizational responses.”  
To learn more about Cockrill and the work of WaTech, see the information sheet. Visit the campaign website at www.NASCIO.org/CIOsMakeaDifference and follow #StateCIOsRock for campaign highlights and updates.

State Chief Information Officer James Collins, State of Delaware, Profiled in NASCIO State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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State Chief Information Officer (CIO) James Collins is making a difference for Delaware by leading the Department of Technology and Information (DTI) in delivering innovative technology solutions that meet the needs of citizens and businesses.
Over the next two weeks, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will feature the work and accomplishments of Collins and DTI in the State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign. Delaware’s profile will specifically highlight the state’s Broadband initiative, the Delaware Open Data Council and the collaborative way in which DTI is partnering with state agencies. 
“Improving the lives of Delawareans through advanced technologies that innovate government services is our vision,“ said Collins, chief information officer, State of Delaware. “This is the challenging, yet exciting, part of the job, as we are tasked with looking into the future to see where things are going, where we should be headed from a networking, infrastructure, application development perspective; and start moving in that direction.” 
To learn more about Collins and the work of DTI, see the information sheet. Visit the campaign website at www.NASCIO.org/CIOsMakeaDifference and follow #StateCIOsRock for campaign highlights and updates.

State Chief Information Officer David Behen, State of Michigan, Profiled in NASCIO State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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State Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) David Behen is making a difference for Michigan by leveraging technology to help residents more easily engage with their government.  
Over the next two weeks, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will feature the work and accomplishments of Behen and DTMB in the State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign. Michigan’s profile will specifically highlight the state’s successes around MiPage, Michigan’s mobile app that serves as a hub for all government services and information, as well as the state’s commitment to cybersecurity. 
“In Michigan we’re committed to making a difference for our residents by providing better customer service, leveraging technology to help 10 million Michiganders interact with their government,” said Behen. “We’ve made great strides in taking government directly to the citizens, we call it citizen-centric government.” 
To learn more about Behen and the work of DTMB, see the information sheet. Visit the campaign website at www.NASCIO.org/CIOsMakeaDifference and follow #StateCIOsRock for campaign highlights and updates.

State Chief Information Officer Stu Davis, State of Ohio, Profiled in NASCIO State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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State Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Assistant Director of the Department of Administration Services (DAS) Stu Davis is making a difference for Ohio by driving savings and efficiencies and investing in citizen and business centric services.

Over the next two weeks, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will feature the work and accomplishments of Davis and DAS in the State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign. Ohio’s profile will specifically highlight the state’s successes in IT optimization and what that foundation will allow Ohio to accomplish in the near future. 

“Collaboration was key to our success,” said Davis, chief information officer, state of Ohio. “We developed tactical plans with a group of over 100 state employees from IT, HR, fiscal, you name it, that became our IT Transformation Approach. This was our roadmap; we planned the work and worked the plan.”

To learn more about Davis and the work of DAS, see the information sheet. Visit the campaign website at www.NASCIO.org/CIOsMakeaDifference and follow #StateCIOsRock for campaign highlights and updates.

NASCIO Releases Value and Vulnerability: The Internet of Things in a Connected State Government

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The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) today released a policy brief on the Internet of Things (IoT) in state government. The paper focuses on the different ways state governments are using IoT now and in the future and the policy considerations involved.

“In NASCIO’s 2015 State CIO Survey, we asked state CIOs to what extent IoT was on their agenda. Just over half said they were in informal discussions, however only one in five had moved to the formal discussion phase. We believe IoT needs to be a formal part of each state’s policy considerations,” explained NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson.

The paper encourages state CIOs to make IoT part of the enterprise architecture discussions on asset management and risk assessment and to develop an IoT roadmap.

“Cities and municipalities have been working toward the designation of ‘smart city’ for a while now,” said Darryl Ackley, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Information Technology and NASCIO president. “While states provide different services than cities, we are seeing a lot of activity around IoT to improve citizen services and we see great potential for growth. The more organized and methodical states can be about implementing IoT, the more successful and useful the outcomes.”

Read the policy brief at www.NASCIO.org/ValueAndVulnerability 

State Chief Information Officer Ron Baldwin, State of Montana, Profiled in NASCIO State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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State Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Executive Director of the Department of Administration State of Montana Information Technology Services Division (SITSD) Ron Baldwin is making a difference for Montana’s economy by ensuring the state is responsive to the needs of small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Over the next two weeks, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will feature the work and accomplishments of Baldwin and SITSD in the State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign. Montana’s profile will specifically highlight SITSD’s role in developing the Montana Business Navigator, an online one-stop shop for small businesses and entrepreneurs interested in starting in or relocating to the state. The Navigator is part of the Main Street Montana project, a dynamic private-public partnership established to build and implement a business plan for Montana by Montanans.

“I have always been a firm believer that business drives technology. We are here to enable businesses, and their needs drive information technology,” said Ron Baldwin, chief information officer for the state of Montana.

To learn more about Baldwin and the work of SITSD, see the information sheet. Visit the campaign website at www.NASCIO.org/CIOsMakeaDifference and follow #StateCIOsRock for campaign highlights and updates.

NASCIO Vice President, Connecticut Chief Information Officer Mark Raymond Testifies on Cybersecurity before House Homeland Security Committee

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Today NASCIO Vice President and Connecticut Chief Information Officer (CIO), Mark Raymond, testified before the House Homeland Security Committee in a joint hearing of the cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and security technologies subcommittee and the emergency preparedness, response, and communications subcommittee at their hearing, “Enhancing Preparedness and Response Capabilities to Address Cyber Threats.”

“It is incredibly important to share the state CIO perspective on cybersecurity and emergency management with federal lawmakers. This hearing has been a great opportunity to raise awareness around cybersecurity and states’ ability to respond to and recover from disasters and cyber disruption,” Raymond said about the value of the hearing. Further, Raymond stated that “state CIOs are committed to securing state networks, protecting the digital business of state government, and coordinating with diverse stakeholders to ensure government continuity in times of disaster.”

In his testimony, Raymond highlighted several federal cybersecurity programs in which states are taking part. He also stressed the importance of federal partnership and urged lawmakers to consider the impact of disparate security regulations with which state governments must comply.

To read the full testimony of Raymond, click here.

To watch a recording of the full hearing, click here.

NASCIO Members and Conference Attendees Give Back to Baltimore, Host City of the 2016 Midyear Conference

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Total donation of $7,128 provided to local Baltimore organization

State, associate, and corporate members of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) donated $4,128 to the Digital Harbor Foundation (DHF) this May. Funds for the local organization were raised leading up to and during NASCIO’s 2016 Midyear Conference held in Baltimore. In addition to funds raised, NASCIO contributed $3,000 – providing a grand total donation of $7,128 to the local organization as part of NASCIO’s Give Back program.

Donations made through the NASCIO Give Back program will support Maker Foundations, a 14-week exploratory course of the Digital Harbor Foundation for middle and high school youth that provides exposure to emerging technologies such as 3D printing, interactive electronics and game design. The course culminates with each participant creating a technology project that incorporates the newly mastered technologies.

“In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to create with technology is an essential skill for youth to have,” said Shawn Grimes, executive director of the Digital Harbor Foundation. “But, more than teaching any one skill, in DHF programs youth learn how to learn, to iterate, and not to be afraid of failure. These skills and traits will follow youth in their careers, personal lives and wherever their futures take them.”

“DHF’s pay-what-you-can model for our youth programs lies at the core of our values – to be open for any young person who wants to join in,” said Ruth Eldredge Thomas, director of foundation and corporate relations at DHF. “NASCIO’s generous donation will help ensure Baltimore youth have access to Maker Foundations and our advanced courses, no matter their background, previous experience or family income. In addition, the opportunity to engage with technology leaders from across the country inspired the kids’ vision of the kinds of contributions they are already making to the tech world at large, and the sort of potential they have for the future. They are the best evidence we can offer of the impact a program like this can have.”

To learn more about the Digital Harbor Foundation, visit www.digitalharbor.org.

State Chief Information Officer and Executive Director Jason Allison, Florida Agency for State Technology, Profiled in NASCIO State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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State Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Executive Director of the Agency for State Technology Jason Allison is making a difference in the lives of Floridians by focusing on best practices, quality and service.

Over the next two weeks, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will feature the work and accomplishments of Allison and the Florida Agency for State Technology (AST) in the State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign. Allison and AST’s profile will specifically highlight the agency’s impact since its establishment two years ago, and the core principles that guide the agency’s work.

“Our priorities first and foremost are to meet the customer agency’s needs,” said Allison. “Our job is to be there to support them every step of the way. Technology is there to support the business; their successes are our successes.” 

To learn more about Allison and the work of AST, see the information sheet. Visit the campaign website at www.NASCIO.org/CIOsMakeaDifference and follow #StateCIOsRock for campaign highlights and updates.

NASCIO Launches State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has launched the 2016 State CIOs Make a Difference campaign. The campaign, which will run through mid-August, emphasizes the important role CIOs hold in government operations and the innovative and strategic work they lead.

“State government runs on IT,” said Doug Robinson, executive director of NASCIO, “and CIOs are there envisioning, executing and leading the way. From critical infrastructure projects to business transformation and developing more user-friendly ways for citizens to interact with government, CIOs are making a difference every day.”

Six states – Florida, Montana, Ohio, Michigan, Delaware and Washington – will be featured in the campaign, each for a two-week period. Videos, narratives and facts specific to each state will be shared at www.nascio.org/CIOs; new content will be added throughout the two-week period. Follow #StateCIOsRock on Twitter and Facebook for campaign updates.

Campaign Schedule:

May 16-27                  Florida
May 30-June 10         Montana
June 13-24                  Ohio
June 27-July 8            Michigan
July 11-22                     Delaware
July 25-August 5       Washington