DIR Deputy Executive Director: Keep an Eye on These Tech Initiatives

Steve Pier has been named deputy executive director at the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), where he helps agencies understand how his department can assist with IT initiatives across the state.

Pier, who has served in Texas government “off and on” during the past 13 years, reports to Executive Director and Chief Information Officer Amanda Crawford. He told Industry Insider – Texas about three projects to watch:

• The Texas by Texas app (TxT) went mobile in January. It connects Texans to services by putting driver’s license renewal, vehicle registration renewal and some occupational licensing renewals at their fingertips. “The Texas by Texas app is still in development with the Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety as tenants,” Pier said. “We think that’s huge as more and more agencies participate. It gives a multifactor, single sign-on approach, so you don’t have to remember all your logins. We hope that eventually as people use it, it will say, ‘We see you are using these services, we think you may like/need these services.’”
• A regional security operational center (RSOC) in partnership with Angelo State University is in its initial stages. It will provide support close to local governments that need assistance with major cybersecurity incidents and was established under Senate Bill 475.
• The Texas Risk and Authorization Management Program (TX-RAMP) is “important for providing security and works in partnership with FedRAMP and StateRAMP.” TX-RAMP is a standardized way for cloud vendors to be certified to do business with state agencies including higher education agencies.

“Let’s get people out of line and online,” Pier said.

Pier came to DIR as chief of staff in November 2019, and he was named to his current role in January. He has worked in multiple state offices over the years and is experienced in communications, government relations, leadership and strategic initiatives, according to his bio.

His earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.