The state’s largest agency, Health and Human Services (HHS), has named Sylvia Hernández Kauffman as its new chief information officer.
Since former CIO Ricardo Blanco’s retirement in June, HHS Chief Operating Officer Maurice McCreary Jr. has served as interim CIO.
In an email exchange with Industry Insider — Texas, HHS confirmed Kauffman’s appointment and her start date as Aug. 15.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Kauffman has more than 16 years of experience in the public sector, nearly 12 of which have been with HHS.
Kauffman joined HHS in 2012 as a senior health IT policy adviser and held multiple positions in the agency before leaving in October 2023 to start a consulting business after serving as inspector general for more than five years.
During her tenure as inspector general, Kauffman pushed for IT upgrades to increase overall efficiency and save millions in annual recoveries. In January this year, Kauffman was appointed to the Task Force on Consolidation of Workforce and Social Services by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Kauffman graduated from Stanford University in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science before receiving her Master of Public Policy from Harvard University in 1999.
Health and Human Services Names New CIO
A new CIO for Health and Human Services has more than 16 years of experience in the public sector, nearly 12 of which have been with HHS.
