General Information

A Chief Information Officer (CIO) is typically the person in an organization who is responsible for strategy, planning, coordination, and implementation of information technology (IT) systems, including computers and telecommunications. Most large corporations have a CIO who reports to either the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Chief Operations Officer (COO).

Sometimes the title "CIO" is confused with "PIO," or "Public Information Officer," which is a completely different position. A PIO deals with the press and media, and works to disseminate information; a CIO primarily deals with computers and technology issues.

The CIO is responsible for vision, strategy, direction, guidelines, policies, planning, coordination, and oversight of information technology for all of the executive branch agencies of our State government. The CIO reports to the Governor, and is a member of the Governor's Senior Staff and Cabinet. The CIO works closely with department and IT executives across the state. The CIO also chairs the State's Information and Technology Policy and Strategy Committee that sets policy and strategy for IT statewide.