In the private sector, DiLullo has held roles involving data protection, information security, cyber risk services, identity and access management and technology consultation with various organizations, including Volvo Cars, Allstate, Deloitte and Accenture.
Now, as CIO of Broward County, DiLullo says his primary focus is on cybersecurity, modernization and organizational culture.
Industry Insider — Florida: As CIO of your organization, how do you describe your role?
DiLullo: As the chief information officer for the Broward County Board of Commissioners, I lead the Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) Division, overseeing 165 IT professionals. My role is to drive cybersecurity resilience, digital transformation and operational excellence for the second-largest county in Florida and the 17th-largest county in the United States. I focus on aligning technology strategies with the county administrator’s mission, ensuring secure, efficient and innovative IT solutions that enhance public services and citizen engagement.
IIFL: Since becoming Broward County’s CIO, what has been your primary focus?
DiLullo: My primary focus has centered on being laser-focused on cybersecurity, modernization and organizational culture. With the continued support of the county and our investments in cybersecurity, the county has enhanced our cyber resilience in areas of data protection, zero trust, endpoint protections and building more governance and accountability across agency IT initiatives. Equally important, I am extremely proud that our organization has embraced and leaned into a culture of ownership and accountability, ensuring that our teams are empowered to make decisions, innovate and drive transformation. Employee engagement is critical to our success, utilizing trust as our foundation and Gallup strengths-based leadership principles.
IIFL: Is there a specific project you are working on or an achievement that you are particularly proud of?
DiLullo: One of our key achievements, with the continued support of the County Administration and our Board of County Commissioners, has been the advancements within Broward County’s cybersecurity posture, including implementing advanced threat detection, security automation and stronger identity and access management controls. One example here is with our ETS DATACOM team.
The Broward County ETS DATACOM team developed and implemented a network segmentation program with the primary objective of segmenting the county network at the departmental level. This initiative aimed to minimize data leakage risks, limit exposure in case of security breaches and enhance the overall cybersecurity framework of the county. It also enforces role-based access control, ensuring that employees can only access data necessary for their roles. Additionally, it restricts access between departments, preventing unauthorized data sharing and ensuring that no department can access another’s data without proper authorization. A great achievement.
Secondly, the county has also achieved the completion of its first County Administration Policy for Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). This CAPP has been two years in the making. The new CAPP strikes the right balance between fostering innovation and protecting the county’s sensitive information.
Lastly, I, along with other members from Broward County, in partnership with Miami-Dade (Department of Emergency Management), currently serve on the Technology and Communications subcommittees for both the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the county contributes our expertise in cybersecurity, public safety and communications and emergency operations.
IIFL: What was the transition from working in state government to local government like? Why move to local government?
DiLullo: Local government provides a closer connection to the communities we serve, with the ability to see immediate impact from IT investments. Having worked within three federal agencies (Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Customs and Border Protection), Volvo Cars, a global car company, and a financial services firm, I wanted to bring private-sector innovation and enterprise security strategies into county/local government IT. What makes this role truly unique is that by being at the county-local level, you get to see firsthand the intersection of policy and service delivery, where technology has a direct and immediate impact on people’s lives. This has made the transition highly rewarding.
IIFL: What projects will you and your team be looking to fund in the upcoming fiscal year for Broward County?
DiLullo: Thanks to the continued support from the County Administration and our Board of County Commissioners, we continue to prioritize investments in cybersecurity, infrastructure and digital services. Additionally, we are looking to implement various AI-driven process automations (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT) to improve county efficiency.
IIFL: What big initiatives or projects are coming up for the county? What development opportunities and RFPs should we watch for in the next six to 12 months?
DiLullo: ETS’ key initiatives include:
- Cloud and Data Modernization: Feasibility Assessment and Strategy Development for Future Cloud Migration Architecture
- Governance: Establishing ERP and AI governance programs
- IT Security and Compliance Consulting Services: IT-related services
- GenAI and Automation: Deploy AI-driven process automation for streamlining county services
DiLullo: For me, digital transformation is the strategic integration of technology to improve government services, efficiency and citizen engagement. It’s about rethinking processes and operational workflows, automating processes, and making actionable data-driven decisions. A digital transformation is an ongoing journey that will continue to evolve. Success will be measured by improved user experience, operational efficiencies and cybersecurity resilience.
IIFL: What is your estimated IT budget, and how many employees do you have? What is the overall budget?
DiLullo: The county is currently in planning and preparation for our next fiscal year. In 2024, Broward County’s 2025 Enterprise Technology Services operating IT budget was approximately $28 million. ETS consists of five divisions: Application Services, Financial Services, IT Business Services, Infrastructure and Project Management Services, with a team of 165 employees.
IIFL: What tech, modernization or AI projects is Broward County currently working on? Are there any projects in the works that you are excited about?
DiLullo: With the strong support of our County Administration and our Broward County Commissioners, we remain committed to leveraging best-in-class technologies to enhance citizen engagements and service accessibility.
One of the projects I’m most excited about is our Feasibility Assessment and Strategy Development for a Cloud Migration Architecture. This initiative will serve as a strategic blueprint that will aid in defining the optimal cloud architecture to support the county’s future technology landscape.
IIFL: What do you read to stay abreast of government technology/SLED-sector developments?
DiLullo: I regularly follow LinkedIn, Wired, TechCrunch, and publications from organizations that include Government Technology*, Florida Technology Magazine, CIO.com Magazine, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Global Council for Responsible AI, NIST and CISA for cybersecurity trends.
IIFL: What advice would you give someone who would like to lead an IT department?
DiLullo:
- Build relationships and understand the business. Get to know the business stakeholders. Understand their needs and concerns. Build that relationship while understanding organizational priorities.
- Build a strong team and empower them to create an environment where teams can excel.
- Build trust and communicate clearly. Earning and gaining trust are key elements that help translate technical issues into business impact for decision-makers.
- Prioritize cybersecurity and risk management. It’s foundational to everything.
DiLullo: Vendors should understand Broward County’s IT strategy, culture and priorities. Vendors need to be prepared to build implicit trust with the county and bring innovative, relevant solutions and capabilities that align with our challenges.
IIFL: Which of your certifications would you like to note?
DiLullo: I hold certifications in data privacy (and) identity management, as well as have a master’s degree in information assurance.
- ECPC-B Data Protection Officer (DPO)
- ISACA Certified Data Protection Security Engineer (CDPSE)
- Certified Data Protection (CDP) and Certified Identity Management Professional (CIMP)
- Researching certifications/certificates for obtaining a chief data and AI officer designation
DiLullo: Last year, I attended fewer conferences as I focused on getting to know and learn about my new organization, teams and the county’s diverse agencies and services. I was able to attend Gartner’s IT Symposium in October last year and plan to return this year. Additionally, I will be attending the Cybersecurity Summit of South Florida near the end of March.
IIFL: What are you reading or listening to for fun? What do you do to unplug in your downtime?
DiLullo: I am currently reading two books right now — Simple Truths of Leadership by Ken Blanchard and Digital Dharma by Deepak Chopra. I am an avid listener of the TechTables podcast and spend time on the golf course towards improving my handicap, which needs work!
*Government Technology is part of e.Republic, Industry Insider — Florida's parent company.
