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Katya Diaz

Staff Writer

Katya Diaz is a staff writer for Government Technology. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in global strategic communications from Florida International University.

Government Experience

Local Governments Work With Google.org to Design Digital Tools

City and county officials discussed partnering with community organizations and technologists from Google.org on digital tools to resolve neighborhood issues, during a “Demo Day” webinar hosted by The Opportunity Project for Cities.

November 15, 2024
· Katya Diaz
Cybersecurity

To Be Cyber Resilient, Put Critical Infrastructure First

Cybersecurity is around-the-clock work, but panelists at the Southern Florida Digital Government Summit offered several ideas for keeping operations secure. Generative artificial intelligence, one official said, is moving humans away from operations.

November 07, 2024
· Katya Diaz
Transportation

Florida Will Pull Digital ID App from Stores, Redo It

In an email Wednesday, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said it will revise the Florida Smart ID application, and asked users to delete it. The app has since been deactivated.

July 12, 2024
· Katya Diaz
Workforce & People

Orlando Names Deputy Chief Information Officer as New CIO

Roberto Lopez has been with the city more than 20 years, much of that as a computer operations manager. He replaces Rosa Akhtarkhavari, who stepped down earlier this month after more than a decade as CIO.

June 17, 2024
· Katya Diaz
Workforce & People

Eric Hayden Confirmed as Tampa CIO, Chief Technology Officer

City Council members voted unanimously to make the career Florida executive permanent in both roles. Hayden, who was previously infrastructure services manager, has served as interim CIO and CTO since January.

June 07, 2024
· Katya Diaz
Workforce & People

Rosa Akhtarkhavari, Longtime Orlando CIO, Will Retire

The veteran municipal executive, who became chief information officer in 2010, led a centralized IT team, oversaw a multiphase IT transformation and managed a budget of more than $29 million.

June 05, 2024
· Katya Diaz
Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers

Cole Sousa

CIO, Florida Department of Children and Families

May/June 2024
· Katya Diaz
Artificial Intelligence

Generative AI Use Proceeding Apace, Florida CISO Says

State Chief Information Security Officer Jeremy Rodgers talked about the Sunshine State’s approach to artificial intelligence at a recent cybersecurity conference. A centralized legislative framework around AI does not yet exist, he said.

April 03, 2024
· Katya Diaz
Workforce & People

Florida Broadband Office Appoints New Leadership

Leandro Garcia has been tapped to lead Florida's efforts to expand broadband Internet access throughout the state. Garcia was serving as the deputy director for the Florida Department of Commerce prior to this appointment.

January 12, 2024
· Katya Diaz
Workforce & People

Tampa's CIO and CTO Steps Down After 12 Years of Service

During his tenure, he oversaw 128 employees within the city’s Technology and Innovation Department, along with a $27 million accelerated applications and infrastructure portfolio replacement.

January 08, 2024
· Katya Diaz