AWARDS & RECOGNITION   |   2010 NASCIO State Technology Innovator Award

Previous Award Recipients

NASCIO created the State Technology Innovator Award to honor outstanding individuals who have made contributions to advance the state's technology policy agenda through the promotion of best practices, adoption of new technologies and advancements in service delivery. Through this award, NASCIO strives to acknowledge state leaders, managers and employees who promote innovation, excellence and good government. Nominees must be an employee, elected official, appointed official or other appointee representing state government.

For 2010, the NASCIO Executive Committee selected three outstanding individuals as the inaugural State Technology Innovator Award recipients. These individuals were recognized in a ceremony at the 2010 NASCIO Annual Conference on September 28.

• Senator David Y. Ige, Hawaii State Senate
• Chris Johnson, Vice President of Geospatial Technologies, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, State of Alabama
• Eric Swanson, Director, Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships, State of Michigan
• Read the press release

Senator David Y. Ige

Senate Technology Leader
Hawai‘i State Senate

Over the last 25 years, Senator David Ige has blended his service as a Hawai‘i state legislator with his career as an engineer and information technology professional to advance the state's technology policy agenda.

Early in his public service career, he was instrumental in creating the Hawai‘i Information Network Corporation as the statewide entity responsible for the development of IT infrastructure and industry expansion. As the Chair of the Committee on Education in the House of Representatives in the early 1990s, he advocated for equal access to information technology in the statewide school system. Upon becoming Chair of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Ige similarly focused on ensuring that technology was used to advance health care programs, supporting telehealth initiatives in rural communities, and enhanced wireless 911 services throughout the state.

Most recently, Senator Ige has served as the champion for expanded use of information technology within the Hawai‘i State Senate and the legislative branch of government. In 2007, when Hawai‘i Senate President Colleen Hanabusa announced the "Paperless Initiative" as part of the Senate's sustainability platform, she named Senator Ige as the Senate's Technology Leader, a first in state legislative history. In this position, Senator Ige served a key role as the Senate's technology ambassador, working with Senators, staff, and the general public to promote technology expansion within the legislative process.

Additional information on the Hawaii Paperless Senate Initiative:

• Hawaii Senator Ige and the Paperless Senate Initiative
• Hawaii Senate Paperless Statistics - 2010 Session

“Senator David Ige has been a leader in shaping technology policy in the Hawai‘i Legislature since he was first elected in 1986. In his role as Senate Technology Leader, David brought his technology background along with a willingness to pursue out-of-the-box solutions in spearheading the implementation of our Senate-wide paperless system. David's leadership — and his unfailing sense of humor during the inevitable glitches — ensured a seamless transition to a paperless operation for our Senators and our constituents.”
Senator Carol Fukunaga, Hawai‘i State Senate

“Senator David Ige demonstrated exceptional leadership as well as an ability to use technology as a strategic tool for innovation in State government. The results of Senator Ige’s appointment by the State of Hawai’i Senate President as the Senate’s Technology leader for their paperless initiative speak for themselves. Over the past three years, the State Senate has measured an 80% paper reduction rate, a 100% technology adoption rate and a 100% increase in on-line, near real-time access to Legislative material. Even better, Senator Ige expanded the benefits of the Senate’s paperless initiative beyond the Senate so that the entire State of Hawai’i benefits from this effort, not just the Senate. Now all citizens can access Legislative documents in near real-time, reduce the number of paper copies made, and provide timely updates to information on hearings. I congratulate Senator Ige on using technology to improve and reduce the cost of state government.”
Russ K. Saito, State Comptroller and Director, Department of Accounting and General Services, State of Hawai‘i

Chris Johnson

Vice President of Geospatial Technologies
U.S. Space and Rocket Center
State of Alabama

As Vice President of the Geospatial Training and Application Center at Alabama’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Chris Johnson was one of the nation’s first promoters of visualization technology. She developed and implemented the concept for a common operating map now known as Virtual Alabama, which provides situational awareness to such diverse users as first responders, emergency managers, municipal leaders, environmental agencies, military staff, transportation officials, utilities workers, economic developers, and agricultural officials. This system currently enables more than 6,500 government officials in every Alabama county, encompassing 1,450 various agencies, to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.

Ms. Johnson’s tireless leadership as program manager—from the initial operating stage in 2006, to that of program sustainment, to future development—is the key factor in the Virtual Alabama success story. From the initial discussions, she developed a business model that empowers each government agency to control the use and release of its data. She successfully worked to build trust with local and state leaders and to foster a collaborative environment. As a result, government officials are now sharing imagery data that is conservatively valued in excess of $40 million.

Virtual Alabama has become known as a national best practice in the geospatial community and proved instrumental this year when Alabama was hit by two EF3-scale tornadoes as well as the Deep Water Horizon oil spill.

However, Ms. Johnson’s contributions to the technology field are not limited to her leadership with Virtual Alabama. She also led the installation of the Alabama’s Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) Project. She was nominated by her peers to be chairperson of the Alabama GIS Advisory Committee and, in that capacity, has worked to build a consortium of stakeholders who will collaborate at federal, state, and local government levels to acquire remote sensing data through a unified aerial photography plan. Ms. Johnson also authored the Alabama State Fly Plan, which provides a logical course for acquiring imagery data for the entire state, eliminating duplication of efforts and saving money through economies of scale.

“I can think of no one who deserves this recognition more. Chris Johnson is truly a great asset for this organization and for all the people of Alabama. She is a visionary leader and a practical manager who possesses impeccable ethics, excellent communication skills, and technical capability. She develops user-friendly solutions to complex challenges. Chris exemplifies all the qualities that define an innovator and that define the best of this state’s and nation’s public servants.”
Larry Capps, Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Space & Rocket Center

“We're proud of the success Virtual Alabama has achieved. Chris Johnson's leadership, determination, and ability to earn the trust of diverse local agencies played a key role in that success. As Virtual Alabama Program Manager, Chris understood the importance of using state imagery and infrastructure data to create a robust program that would provide cutting-edge assistance to agencies across the state.”
Jack Doane, Director, Information Services Division, Department of Finance, State of Alabama

Eric Swanson

Director, Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships
Department of Technology, Management and Budget
State of Michigan

As Director of Michigan’s Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships, Eric Swanson has used innovative technology to infuse an entrepreneurial spirit within the organization and to drive shared services. Launched in 2008, the center delivers technology solutions and supplies innovative support to all of Michigan’s state government, providing leaders and subject-matter experts to develop solutions and generate partnerships across state government and beyond.

Mr. Swanson, who was recently named the state’s Chief Data Officer, played a critical role in establishing an enterprise-level information management approach, coordinating and consolidating business intelligence, data transport, query reporting and related tools as well as addressing quality assurance. As a result of his leadership, information is managed as an asset and delivered as part of a business service.

Additionally, Mr. Swanson integrated the state’s Geographic Information Systems, advancing them to the forefront of IT initiatives for influencing public policy. He has used GIS to forge new partnerships and shared services, drive data utilization and enable data-driven decisions.

As coordinator of Michigan’s Economic Recovery Act for information technology-related projects, Mr. Swanson leads the state’s efforts to obtain American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for a statewide broadband superhighway. His nonpartisan nature in supporting the Michigan Legislature is widely acknowledged and respected. He directed the 1990, 2000 and 2010 redistricting data projects.

“Eric is an innovator who is helping us leverage technology to make state services less costly and easier for people to access. He’s a creative problem solver, someone who can stretch traditional thinking and devise new ways of getting things done.”
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, State of Michigan

“Eric has been an innovative leader within our department and across state government for years. As the Director of the Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships, he has taken that innovation across traditional boundaries by working closely with local governments, forging shared solutions and services with local partners that bring greater efficiency for taxpayers across Michigan. I know I speak for his many friends and colleagues in government when I say that this recognition is truly deserved.”
Ken Theis, Chief Information Officer, State of Michigan

Previously presented as the NASCIO State Technology Champion Award:

2009 State Technology Champion Governor Bill Ritter, Colorado