Features Government

For some, the term “innovation management” may seem like a sign on a Disney Studios office door. But Andrew Buss, Philadelphia’s Deputy Chief Information Officer for Innovation Management, sees his role as trying to change the way municipal government works. “There are a lot of ways to define innovation,” Buss says. “For us, innovation is […]

He doesn’t have to look far for a reminder of what can happen when a municipality lets down its cybersecurity safeguards. For just this past spring, Baltimore was held virtual hostage, its computer systems hacked by the ransomware RobinHood. While Maryland’s biggest city may be commended for refusing to pay the hackers $75,000 in untraceable […]

It’s not Tokyo or New York, but for Chief Information Officer Travis Cutright, the IT amenities currently being rolled out in Mesa, Arizona—the 35th largest city in the U.S.—are as cutting-edge as they come. There’s a mobile app that allows users to access and pay their utility bills from anywhere, high-speed networks in neighborhoods where reliable […]

In an age when giant tech companies like Upwork and Uber pop up in rapid succession and employees hop from one job to the next, William Zauner is frequently asked what’s kept him working at JAMS for 29 years. His response? “It isn’t one company, it has been many different companies over the years,” Zauner, […]

The building may look like a veritable fortress, but the cybersecurity assault is unrelenting—and all eyes are upon the North Carolina Department of Revenue (DOR), monitoring their next move. What happens here in terms of protecting state and federal tax information and financial data could be a first in a nationwide initiative, according to Jerome […]

In the eyes of many Americans, democracy is a given. It’s our sacred birthright, deeply rooted and permanent, helping define who we are as people, as citizens, as a country. Spend 30-plus years deep inside the system like Nelson Moe has, and you might have a different perspective. Democracy isn’t foolproof; it’s fragile—and, if you […]

She figured to be in career-changing mode sooner rather than later. Not out of desperation, though. Maria Sanchez was holding down two high-profile positions—general counsel for the New Mexico Department of Information Technology and state CIO. Quite a two-fer for a 31-year-old. Or for anyone. Lest one find that resume too impressive, Sanchez will remind […]

It’s time for that most loathed of citizen rituals: spending an entire afternoon watching that digital red counter as you wait to renew your driver’s license: 17, 18, 19, at a rate of roughly one tick every three minutes. By the way, you’re number 72. If you happen to live in the State of Kansas, […]

If you ask Youri Assi Antonin, he’ll tell you the world’s most impressive technology isn’t artificial intelligence or fusion power. It’s not neural networking or molecular assemblers. It’s not even the Hubble Space Telescope, a machine so powerful it can see galaxies 13 billion light years away. Indeed, it’s something far more advanced—and beautiful. “The […]

Every business owner dreads the permitting process. Depending on the space’s size and location, dozens of documents and licenses might be required. Fire safety, air and water pollution control, sales tax paperwork, health department checks: It’s enough red tape to mummify the building (that’s a code violation, by the way). In Reno, Nevada, all you […]