LEXINGTON, Ky., Thursday, December 12, 2024—Today, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) released the State CIO Top 10 for 2025. The Top 10 represents state technology leaders’ top policy and technology priorities for the coming year, as voted on by 50 state and territory chief information officers (CIOs) and has been published every year since 2007. Cybersecurity has reclaimed its spot as the only top priority for state CIOs, having tied with digital government services in 2024. Artificial intelligence moved to the second spot and digital government is in third for 2025.

Other items of note from the 2025 Top 10 are:

• Accessibility makes its debut on the list for the first time ever
• Budget and cost control appears back on the list for the first time since 2021
• Legacy modernization falls one spot this year to number five
• Workforce falls to number nine, down from number five in 2024
• Identity and access management and cloud services each climb up one spot

NASCIO utilizes the annual voting of priorities to develop strategic areas of focus for the coming year, formulate new issue forums and working groups and plan NASCIO conference sessions and publications.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
[email protected]

Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

Lexington, KY, Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) and the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) are pleased to announce the release of their joint publication, AI-Powered Procurement: Harnessing AI’s Potential for More Efficient State Procurement Practices. The report sheds light on how public sector organizations can adopt artificial intelligence (AI) for automating routine tasks, improving decision-making and reducing manual workloads—ultimately helping state agencies navigate limited resources and workforce challenges.

Through interviews with chief procurement officers (CPOs), chief information officers (CIOs), AI technology vendors and suppliers, and platform intermediary providers, the paper provides insight into:

• Unlocking AI potential
• Understanding the obstacles in AI deployment
• Best practices for AI adoption in public procurement
• A strategic pathway to AI integration

“AI has the power to transform state operations but requires coordinated efforts between CPOs and CIOs,” said Matt Oyer, NASPO’s chief learning officer. “As strategic partners, NASPO and NASCIO are committed to fostering these relationships and maximizing technology’s role in enhancing government operations and service delivery.”

“This report not only highlights the opportunities AI offers but also addresses the challenges of implementation, particularly around data privacy, ethics and transparency,” said Amy Glasscock, NASCIO’s program director of innovation and emerging issues. “With careful planning and guidelines, states can implement AI in ways that deliver real value and uphold public trust and safety.”

Contact
Amy Glasscock
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
[email protected]

New Orleans, LA., Tuesday, October 1, 2024 —The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) presented the State Technology Innovator Award to three deserving public servants during the NASCIO 2024 Annual Conference. The NASCIO State Technology Innovator Award honors outstanding state government employees who have made contributions to advance state technology policy through the promotion of best practices, adoption of new technologies and advancements in service delivery. Nominations were gathered from NASCIO members and selected by the NASCIO Executive Committee.

The following are the recipients of the NASCIO 2024 State Technology Innovator Award:

Kathryn Darnall Helms
Chief Data Officer, State of Oregon
Nominated by: Sharon Murphy, Marketing Senior Specialist, NTT Data

CDO Kathryn Darnall Helms’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the state’s technology and data management policies has been imperative in Oregon’s technology efforts. Her collaborative development of Oregon’s Data Strategy and the draft Data Literacy Framework reflects a commitment to inclusive policymaking and skill enhancement across state agencies. Darnall Helms’s strategic efforts focus on using data as an asset to foster people-first initiatives in digital government services. Her work is integral to statewide efforts shaping the future of AI governance, ensuring that the benefits of Oregon’s digital advancements are equitably shared among all citizens
Darnall Helms has also been central to Governor Tina Kotek’s efforts to expand emergency sheltering and rehousing initiatives addressing homelessness. Her commitment to data equity is also evident in her contributions to Oregon’s AI Advisory Council, where she advocates for fairness and self-determination in AI governance. Nationally, Darnall Helms’s influence extends through her partnership in the State CDO Network’s Data Equity Briefing and her participation in the Equity in Practice Learning Community, ensuring that the benefits of the digital revolution
reach underrepresented groups within Oregon and across the country. Her efforts are a testament to the power of inclusive and equitable data usage in creating a more effective and transformative government.

Paula Peters
Deputy State Chief Information Officer, State of Missouri
Nominated by: John Laurent, Acting CIO, State of Missouri

Missouri State Deputy CIO Paula Peters has been integral to Missouri’s digital government transformation, focusing on a strategic overhaul for enduring success. Peters formed an IT steering committee with top-level government participation followed by an enterprise project management office (EPMO) to improve project management. Her consolidation of application development teams and establishment of a business relationship management (BRM) practice proved invaluable when Missouri received $126 million in ARPA funds, allowing for swift action on various state technology initiatives through the efforts of Peters.
Building on this foundation, Peters led citizen journey mapping efforts to address public concerns and created a comprehensive inventory of the state’s 1200 systems to aid in disconnecting from legacy mainframes. Under her leadership, centralized governance structures like EPMO, BRM and application development expedited the launch of their citizen portal – a cross-agency initiative established by the IT steering committee in 2018 with broad support. Paula’s vision and leadership have also fast-tracked the approval and funding of numerous digital government transformation projects, such as identity and access management, low-code platforms, API Integration and AI.

Nick Stowe
State Chief Technology Officer, Washington Technology Solutions
Nominated by: Vickie Sheehan, Communications Director, State of Washington

Washington State CTO Nick Stowe has been instrumental in propelling Washington’s technology policy while fostering a culture of initiative and bold innovation. His establishment of Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) Architecture and Innovation Division led the state to embrace cloud computing and generative AI while ensuring their secure integration into the state infrastructure. Stowe co-authored Washington State’s first guidelines for responsible AI use, contributed to the governor’s AI executive order and formed a statewide AI community of practice. Stowe’s leadership in cultivating partnerships across various sectors further allowed WaTech to improve and prioritize citizen-centric technology solutions.
Stowe has been a champion for emerging technologies such as AI across the state as well as in his WaTech role, setting the framework for its ethical application across Washington. He has overseen the development of procurement guidelines and training for AI and is preparing to launch a statewide AI evaluation and adoption program. His strategic direction has led to the establishment of the Innovation and Modernization Fund, which, with a biennial budget of $3 million, has swiftly funded 12 technology projects prioritizing accessible and user-friendly technology for vulnerable populations. This approach underscores Nick’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable government service landscape.

To view previous recipients, please visit NASCIO’s website.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

New Orleans, LA., Tuesday, October 1, 2024 — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has named Commonwealth of Virginia chief information security officer (CISO) Michael Watson as the recipient of the 2024 Thomas M. Jarrett State Cybersecurity Leadership Award. The program was created to pay homage to Tom Jarrett, late past president of NASCIO (2004 – 2005), for his passion for cybersecurity and honors state CISOs for exceptional accomplishments in their field.

Michael has been Virginia CISO since 2012 and has played a crucial role in promoting cybersecurity, advancing the state’s cybersecurity posture and implementing best practices. Under the leadership of Watson, the Commonwealth of Virginia has significantly enhanced its cybersecurity posture, implementing a comprehensive zero trust strategy and a robust cybersecurity plan to protect citizen data and manage risks. Watson strengthened the Commonwealth’s defenses through improved identity and access management, vulnerability management and advanced security training.

The Commonwealth, guided by Watson’s leadership, aims to further solidify its whole-of-state cybersecurity framework by:

• Maximizing funding provided in federal cybersecurity grants
• Further developing partnerships with state and local organizations
• Lessening strains on state agencies by providing robust cybersecurity training
• Procuring and deploying innovative tools to maintain a resilient and secure technology environment in the Commonwealth

To view past recipients of the Thomas M. Jarrett State Cybersecurity Leadership Award, visit nascio.org/awards.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]