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What to Know:
- DIR Deputy Executive Director Steve Pier has been appointed executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission.
- Pier's move comes amid broader leadership changes at DIR, including the departure of Executive Director Amanda Crawford.
- Pier joined DIR in 2019 and played a key role in agencywide initiatives, including government relations, risk management and strategic planning.
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What to Know:
- Texas Chief AI and Innovation Officer Tony Sauerhoff will become president of the GovRAMP Board, succeeding Arizona CIO J.R. Sloan.
- GovRAMP supports government data security and risk‑based decision-making, and the leadership change reflects efforts to expand its reach and collaboration across states.
- Sloan will continue his state IT leadership in Arizona and take on a new role as president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.
What to Know:
- Texas DIR will no longer award cooperative contracts based on specific brands, focusing instead on solutions and specifications.
- The new model is intended to increase vendor competition, reduce brand lock-in and improve pricing for agencies.
- Vendors can still submit offers if their products meet the functional requirements outlined in future solicitations.
What to Know:
- Casey Kennedy, former CIO of the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA), has joined Mission Critical Partners as a project manager.
- He brings more than 30 years of IT and public-sector experience, including 15 years leading statewide judicial technology initiatives.
- Texas OCA has not named his replacement as of this writing.
What to Know:
- Texas State Technical College will receive $3.5 million from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to expand its Accelerated Semiconductor Technician Training Program in Hutto.
- The program will prepare students for semiconductor fabrication careers in just 10 weeks, with training in wafer processing, gas control systems and cleanroom environments.
- This is the latest in a series of awards issued under the Texas CHIPS Act to grow the state’s semiconductor workforce and infrastructure.
As part of Industry Insider — Texas’ ongoing efforts to educate readers on state and local government, their IT plans and initiatives, here’s the latest in our periodic series of interviews with departmental IT leaders.
What to Know:
- Eligible applicants include Texas local governments and federally recognized tribes seeking to reduce cyber risk.
- Projects must align with the state’s cybersecurity plan and focus on one-time mitigation activities such as MFA, encryption or threat detection.
- Applications are due Feb. 12, with a minimum grant of $10,000 and a 30 percent local cost share.
The event will feature state IT and procurement leaders outlining statutory contract terms and vendor engagement opportunities.
What to Know:
- A local 911 authority approved $300,000 for AI-powered translation, transcription and quality control services ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
- Contracts were awarded to GovWorx, Prepared and RapidDeploy through a cooperative purchasing agreement.
- The system is expected to identify caller languages automatically and streamline interpreter access during emergency calls involving non-English speakers.
What to Know:
- Amanda Crawford has been appointed Texas Insurance Commissioner and will depart her role as executive director of the Department of Information Resources and state CIO.
- DIR confirmed Crawford’s exit and said leadership transition plans are forthcoming.
- As insurance commissioner, Crawford will oversee regulation of the state’s insurance industry, including consumer protection, rate review, licensing and disaster response coordination.
What to Know:
- The Texas Secretary of State is seeking a new chief information officer to lead agencywide IT strategy, operations and modernization.
- Current CIO Dan Teczar, who has served since 2018, has not publicly announced his departure, though a job posting for his replacement recently closed.
- The CIO oversees infrastructure, cybersecurity, compliance and interagency coordination for one of the state’s highest-profile executive offices.
What to Know:
- State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione has been named president of the Texas Blockchain Council and will lead efforts to expand the state's role in digital assets and emerging technologies.
- Capriglione will continue serving in the Texas House through January 2027 and currently chairs the new Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee.
- A longtime technology advocate, he previously sponsored legislation on AI, cybersecurity and blockchain infrastructure.
What to Know:
- The city-operated AI Factory processes real-time data from cameras, sensors and connected systems to enhance public safety, traffic control and emergency response, according to CIO Jorge Cardenas.
- The platform is powered by the city’s own fiber network and private 5G infrastructure, allowing for secure, high-speed data processing without relying on third-party cloud providers.
- Brownsville plans to offer compute capacity to neighboring cities that lack similar capabilities.
What to Know:
- Texas’ 2026–27 state budget includes more than $1 billion in IT capital funding for modernization across key agencies.
- Major initiatives include system overhauls at HHSC, TxDMV and DFPS, and creation of the new Texas Cyber Command.
- Agencies are expanding use of AI, automation and data integration, with new vendor opportunities expected in late 2025 and into 2026.
What to Know:
- The state of Texas spent about $6.3 billion on IT-related goods and services in Fiscal Year 2025.
- The Health and Human Services Commission and Department of Transportation were the top-spending agencies.
- Deloitte, Rackspace and the Texas Facilities Commission were among the highest-paid vendors.
What to Know:
- Several Texas agencies and cities appointed new CIOs in 2025, including Dallas, El Paso and the Office of Court Administration.
- Long-serving CIOs in San Antonio and statewide judicial services announced plans to retire.
- Agencies also added deputy CIOs to support cybersecurity, AI initiatives and IT modernization.
As we reflect on 2025, here are our picks for the largest, most impactful technology stories in Texas this year:
What to Know:
- Texas Cyber Command is hiring multiple cybersecurity analysts to support statewide threat detection, incident response and cyber defense operations.
- Open roles include Cybersecurity Analyst II and III positions focused on threat research, SOC monitoring and vulnerability triage.
- Positions are based in San Antonio, with monthly pay ranging from $7,833-$9,458, depending on role and experience.
What to Know:
- The university received $1.98 million from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to launch a workforce training program in 3D heterogeneous integration (3DHI) microelectronics.
- The initiative is a partnership with the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute and Next-Generation Microelectronics Manufacturing program, focusing on advanced semiconductor design and manufacturing skills.
- The grant is part of the Texas CHIPS Act strategy to expand in-state semiconductor capabilities through education, research and industry collaboration.
Industry Insider — Texas will pause the morning newsletter during the long holiday break in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The next newsletter will hit your inbox on Monday, Dec. 29, and we will return to our regular schedule on Jan. 2.
What to Know:
- San Antonio CIO Craig Hopkins will retire in early 2026 after leading the city’s IT department since 2017.
- Hopkins will stay through the transition to support continuity and onboarding of the new CIO.
- The CIO role oversees a $330 million tech portfolio and is responsible for cybersecurity, digital services and IT strategy across 40 city departments.
What to Know:
- Texas is a pilot state in CMS’ new WISeR Model, which uses AI and clinical review to reduce wasteful Medicare spending.
- Cohere Health will operate in Texas, reviewing select Medicare services for medical necessity under the model.
- Providers face new review options, including pre-authorization through WISeR participants or post-service audits, starting in 2026.
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