Brown’s office announced the appointment this week, noting “Woods will be responsible for implementing Governor Brown's goal of ensuring user-friendly, reliable, and secure state technology systems that serve Oregonians.” This means that Woods will continue with relatively standard CIO duties, including improving IT project management, bolstering cybersecurity and minimizing risk for the department.
Woods was also instrumental in helping to develop a road map for IT work in Oregon’s state government of late, helping to form a related strategic plan that was released in September. What’s perhaps most notable about that plan is it includes commitments to internal IT infrastructure and management as well as to public-facing priorities such as helping residents enroll in health care or navigate the criminal justice system.
"Terrence's service over the past eight months as interim state chief information officer has brought a focus on my goal to streamline state government and modernize our systems to better serve Oregonians," said Brown in a press release. "I look forward to Terrence's continued leadership in providing reliable, resilient, and secure information technology systems and services."
Woods is a veteran of Oregon’s public sector at the state level, having previously been the CIO and administrative services administrator for the Department of Revenue, the chair of the state CIO Council, director of IT for the Oregon Health Authority and deputy CIO for its Department of Human Services. He was unavailable immediately after his appointment to discuss departmental priorities and plans.
Woods became interim CIO for Oregon earlier this year following the April resignation of then-CIO Alex Pettit. Pettit left the job in June for a newly created position with the Oregon Secretary of State's Office.
