Texas Launches Search for New State Chief Information Officer

Texas has formally begun its search for a new state chief information officer as the Department of Information Resources (DIR) moves to fill its top leadership role following a series of high-profile departures.

The agency has posted an opening for executive director, a position that also serves as Texas’ state chief information officer. The role oversees the state’s central technology agency, which is responsible for statewide IT strategy, procurement vehicles, shared services and policy coordination across hundreds of public entities. Applications for the position opened in late January and are scheduled to close Feb. 27.

The search comes after former Executive Director and state CIO Amanda Crawford was appointed Texas insurance commissioner by Gov. Greg Abbott. Crawford, who led DIR since 2019, is expected to leave the agency as she transitions to her new role at the Texas Department of Insurance.

Her departure was followed closely by the exit of Deputy Executive Director and state Deputy CIO Steve Pier, who was named executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission, adding to the leadership reshuffling underway at the agency.

In response, the DIR governing board appointed Tony Sauerhoff as interim executive director and interim state chief information officer. Sauerhoff currently serves as DIR’s chief AI and innovation officer and has held senior cybersecurity and technology leadership roles within Texas government. The board has said it will conduct a national search for a permanent executive director, with a final selection to be voted on at a future board meeting.

According to the job posting, the permanent executive director will lead an agency of about 325 employees and operate under the policy direction of DIR’s gubernatorially appointed governing board. The position carries broad authority over IT across state agencies, including technology procurement, service delivery, cybersecurity oversight and strategic planning. By statute, the executive director also serves as the state’s chief information security officer, though cybersecurity operations are broadly moving to the new Texas Cyber Command. The CIO also regularly advises the Legislature on technology-related matters.

The executive director role sits at the center of Texas’ statewide technology operations. DIR manages major cooperative contracts, shared data center and cloud services, and digital platforms such as Texas.gov, and plays a central role in technology planning, procurement and service delivery across state government. The leadership search comes as the agency continues to adjust its responsibilities alongside the launch of Texas Cyber Command and the expansion of artificial intelligence and innovation initiatives, changes that coincide with ongoing modernization efforts across state agencies.

With the position now posted, DIR’s governing board is expected to evaluate candidates in the coming weeks as Texas looks to install its next long-term technology leader.