Craig Orgeron, Veteran Mississippi Tech Lead, Returns as CIO

Craig Orgeron, Mississippi’s chief information officer of nearly a decade, will return as state CIO starting Monday, succeeding David Johnson, who is slated to retire at month’s end.
Orgeron is stepping back into a familiar role at the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS). He will be its executive director and state CIO — both positions he previously held from 2011 to 2020. This time around, the veteran executive said he will take a connective approach to IT services and innovation.

“I am committed to driving innovative solutions and fostering collaboration across all levels of government and the private sector,” Orgeron said in a news release. “Together, we can create a dynamic and responsive IT environment that supports our state’s growth and prosperity while delivering exceptional service to our citizens.”

Mark Henderson, chair of the ITS board, expressed his confidence in Orgeron’s leadership, and optimism for the department’s future.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Orgeron back to ITS,” Henderson said in a statement. “With his impressive background in information technology and proven track record of innovative leadership, Craig is the ideal person to guide ITS and Mississippi as we continue to strengthen our IT infrastructure and services.”

Orgeron left ITS in August 2020 to become an executive government advisor at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he worked for about two years before becoming a professor of Management Information Systems at Millsaps College.

The CIO has worn many hats at ITS since 1997, beginning as an IT planner and serving in roles including emerging technology coordinator, enterprise architect and director of strategic services before leading the department.

He was named president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers for a one-year term starting in September 2013 and has been a member of the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center’s executive committee. In 2016, Orgeron was named one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers.

Orgeron holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS and master’s and doctorate degrees in public policy and administration, all from Mississippi State University. He is also a graduate of the Senator John C. Stennis State Executive Development Institute and the Institute on International Digital Government Research, per the state, and has completed coursework in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and leadership for CIOs through the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Series.