State and Local Government IT Influencers Worth a Follow in 2024

Adam Ford is CTO of state and local government and education for ZScaler. Before transitioning to the private sector earlier this year, he served Illinois in various IT capacities for more than 20 years, including as a network engineer and security engineer. He rounded out his career at the state level by serving as the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology’s first CISO.

Alan Fuller is CIO of Utah. He has 20 years of IT experience, including senior IT and product management roles with Oracle and Siebel Systems. He is a champion of agile software development methodologies and possesses broad expertise and experience in business intelligence, data management, advanced analytics and customer relationship management systems.

Alex Wong is chief IT architect for Kansas, where he spearheads comprehensive enterprise architecture initiatives across all three state government branches and drives the agenda for IT transformation. He’s a seasoned IT leader with expertise in management, enterprise applications, network architecture, cybersecurity and customer support. He previously held executive IT leadership roles at San Jose State University and the University of Kansas.

Aman Bhullar is CIO for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder and County Clerk, overseeing IT strategy, enterprise software rollouts and governance. With a background spanning two decades, he excels in project leadership and technology implementations, driving efficiencies, and maintaining compliance. A certified project management professional, Bhullar excels in his hands-on approach to facilitating successful private and public sector initiatives.

Chester Wisniewski is a director and global field CTO for Sophos. He has more than 25 years of cybersecurity experience under his belt and is well versed in modern cybersecurity trends and cybercriminal behaviors. A regular source of expertise for BBC, NBC and other major media outlets, he’s one of the most trusted voices in cybersecurity.

Chris McMasters is CIO for Corona, Calif. With nearly two decades of private sector IT leadership under his belt, he is uniquely qualified to propel IT from a back-office function to the forefront of innovation in the public sector. He is a proponent of using cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence, and private-sector partnerships to improve employee collaboration and enhance citizen services.

David Coleman is director of wireless networking for Extreme Networks. He is a prolific technology evangelist, publishing several books about 802.11 Wi-Fi technology and delivering IT training sessions at conferences and speaking events all over the world. He has more than two decades of wireless networking experience and is the 2020 recipient of the Wi-Fi Lifetime Achievement Award.

David Henke is CIO for Milwaukee, Wis. He has nearly 20 years of IT leadership experience in the public sector and possesses deep expertise in telecommunications, project management and server management. He holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Denise Reilly-Hughes is CIO for Vermont. She spent more than 20 years in the private sector, including seven years at Microsoft, during which time she helped the state of Vermont transition to the cloud. She is a vocal advocate of IT modernization through continuous improvement and has demonstrated extensive expertise in technology strategy, customer success and executive leadership.

Francisco Ramirez is chief architect for state and local government for Red Hat. He has over 25 years of expertise in sales, customer-focused design and strategic account management, and has demonstrated a successful approach to open innovation and building business partnerships. Having also worked at Dell and Symantec, Ramirez has a track record of forging public-private partnerships and deploying innovative IT solutions for use by the public sector.

Jill Fraser is CISO for Colorado. She previously led security operations at the state’s Governor’s Office of Information Technology as senior director and interim CISO. With more than 20 years in IT, including seven years as Jefferson County’s CISO, she's known for enhancing cybersecurity strategies that support growth and innovation. She is also a proponent of cross-agency collaboration, having spearheaded Colorado’s Whole of State cyber effort in 2018.

Joe McIntosh is CIO for Oklahoma, where he oversees statewide IT strategies and digital transformation initiatives. He previously worked as the state’s senior director of app development and data, focusing on modernizing legacy systems, driving innovation in enterprise platforms, and implementing a statewide data strategy to enhance citizen services and operational efficiency. McIntosh also boasts more than 20 years of private sector IT leadership experience.

Justin Bumbico is director of IT for the Columbus Metropolitan Library, where he has served since 2021. Previously, he worked as CML’s IT infrastructure services manager. During his time at the helm, he has, among other accomplishments, helped CML implement free Wi-Fi across all of its locations and oversaw the revamping of the library’s entire wireless networking system.

Katie Savage is CIO for Maryland, where she heads the state’s efforts to implement technology solutions that modernize IT infrastructure and ultimately enhance citizen services. She previously served as the head of the Pentagon’s Defense Digital Service, where she developed a mobile tracking application to ensure safe vaccine manufacturing and delivery as part of Operation Warp Speed.

Kimberly LaGrue is CIO for New Orleans, where she leads the Office of Information Technology and Innovation. With more than 25 years in IT, 14 of which were spent in city government, she has extensive experience with local broadband development, digital literacy and connecting underserved communities. LaGrue also presides over the Cities Today Institute’s leadership team for North America and is an adviser for the Internet of Things Consortium.

Matthew Dietz is senior global government strategist for Cisco, collaborating with leaders worldwide to leverage technology for community transformation. With experience as Elkhart County (Ind.) government’s CIO, he also excels in delivering impactful citizen solutions. Dietz’s expertise centers on cybersecurity; broadband; and advancing social, economic and environmental goals in communities. He was recognized as a Cisco Sales Champion in fiscal year 2023.

Melissa Scott is CIO for Philadelphia, where she oversees the Office of Innovation and Technology. With a background in software development, project management, and infrastructure and security planning, Scott aims to enhance digital access and civic services by fostering a smarter, more interconnected city government. Her notable accomplishments to date include launching the Department of Licenses and Inspections mobile app.

Meredith Ward is deputy executive director for the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. She has worked in policy, legislative affairs and executive leadership for many years, and she has extensive experience in the areas of cybersecurity, IT acquisition, criminal justice, workforce and state technology. Ward previously worked for the International Association of Chiefs of Police and held legislative roles at the National Club Association and National Cable & Telecommunications Association.

Michael Mestrovich is CISO at Rubrik. He has held various executive IT leadership roles in federal agencies over the course of his career, including in the U.S. Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency. With a background in government and defense, Mestrovich excels in driving IT innovation, securing large-scale infrastructures, and enhancing organizational resilience and compliance in both the public and private sectors.

Pong Xiong is director of Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services, overseeing operations to meet the needs of constituents statewide. With a background in tax operations and quality assurance management, he brings extensive leadership experience from the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Xiong is a proponent of enhancing citizen services for Minnesotan motorists using the latest customer service IT, including artificial intelligence.

Richard Semple is CIO for Williamson County, Texas. He is a solutions-oriented leader with over 18 years of service to Williamson County. His public sector experience includes IT management, project execution, public safety and mission-critical operations. Semple applies his expertise in end-user support and system design and implementation to improving public safety and facilitating more seamless critical services within his jurisdiction.

Shane McDaniel is CIO for Seguin, Texas. He leads the ongoing management and modernization of IT systems, focusing on strategic innovation and departmental collaboration. McDaniel oversees all technology investments, budgets and staff, and has gained acclaim for Seguin’s cybersecurity achievements, including the 2022 CSO50 Award for outstanding national programs. Prior to his public sector tenure, he worked at several notable organizations, including Fujitsu and Dell.

Stacy Schwartz is head of U.S. public sector and education for RingCentral, where she delivers reliable, cloud-based communications to public sector and education leaders, enhancing mission-critical connectivity and mentoring future leaders. Previously, she led AT&T’s Public Sector, Public Safety and FirstNet divisions, managing growth and client relationships with the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and the State Department.

Tamecka McKay is CIO for Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where she oversees the city’s technology infrastructure, including cloud services, public safety tech and business applications. She has 25 years of public sector IT experience, having previously held leadership roles in Broward County Public Schools and the town of Davie, Fla. She holds advanced degrees in public administration and technology management and is pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy.

William Mann is CISO for the Borough of West Chester, Pa., where he has served for nearly 40 years. In addition to spearheading planning, management and budget for multiple departments within the borough and possessing deep expertise in networking, wireless services and cloud, he is a vocal cybersecurity champion. He posts new cybersecurity tips and guidance most weekdays to the Cybersecurity Daily YouTube channel.