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NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson on Status of State IT

From expanding the role of state CIOs to building federal partnerships, Robinson shares his insights on how NASCIO has shaped the future of public-sector IT over the past two decades.

 AI-generated, photo-realistic visualization of a cowboy preparing to wrangle things in a data center.
The podcast cover image for this The Future in Context (TFIC) episode shows an AI-generated, photo-realistic visualization of a cowboy preparing to wrangle things in a data center.  (DALL-E 3)
Listen to this episode on the player below or subscribe for free on YouTube or the podcast app of your choice — Apple PodcastsSpotifyAudacy and Audible.



As state CIOs prepare to gather in New Orleans for their association’s national conference next week, it is worth taking stock of the public-sector IT community — strategic and operational complexities, leadership, strategic planning, partnership-building and relentless change in technologies and citizen expectations.
Doug Robinson.
Doug Robinson, pictured here earlier this year, was appointed as executive director of NASCIO in 2004. (David Kidd)
National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Executive Director Doug Robinson is uniquely positioned to reflect on the status of state IT. Marking his 20th year at the head of the membership organization, his two-decade tenure is significantly longer than his peers. He joins the podcast to remember the lessons hard-learned over the years, and to look ahead at what lies around the next corner.

SHOW NOTES


Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

1. The Continuing Evolution of the State CIO Role: The interview delves into the evolution of state CIOs from a back-office, technical role into a central leadership position that drives government transformation. The focus has shifted from managing “boxes and wires” to leadership in public service delivery and digital innovation.
2. Technology, Digital Services, and Future Challenges: The future of state IT focuses on improving the delivery of digital services to citizens. Robinson emphasizes the need for states to embrace new technology, human-centered design, and improved digital identity management, while also preparing for emerging trends like AI. He stresses that public-sector IT must modernize to meet citizen expectations, akin to the private sector.
3. From Nothing to Permanent Presence in Government Affairs: Robinson traces NASCIO’s evolving focus on government affairs, emphasizing the importance of engaging with federal partners and state legislators. He recounts how the association’s advocacy efforts have grown over the years, including the establishment of an office in Washington, D.C., to represent state IT interests more effectively.
4. Balancing Member Expectations and Equity: As a membership organization, NASCIO faces the challenge of balancing diverse and sometimes conflicting member needs. Robinson discusses how NASCIO ensures member equity by treating all states and corporate members fairly, regardless of size or influence.
5. Chief AI Officers and Emerging Leadership Roles: The conversation touches on the rise of new technology-related leadership roles in state governments, such as chief AI officers, chief privacy officers, and chief information security officers. Robinson notes that these roles may or may not report to the CIO and discusses how NASCIO has embraced these emerging leaders by creating communities of practice to foster collaboration among them.

Related Link to coverage of previous NASCIO conferences, including reporting by Government Technologyfrom annual and midyear conferences.

Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3.
Paul W. Taylor is the Senior Editor of e.Republic Editorial and of its flagship titles - Government Technology and Governing.
Ashley Silver is a staff writer for <i>Government Technology. </i>She holds an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Montevallo and a graduate degree in public relations from Kent State University. Silver is also a published author with a wide range of experience in editing, communications and public relations.