Pennsylvania CIO gets promoted

Pennsylvania Office for Information Technology

Pennsylvania Chief Information Officer Art Stephens was named Gov. Ed Rendell's new deputy chief of staff today.

Stephens, whose formal title is deputy secretary of information technology in the Office of Administration, will continue to have general oversight responsibility for IT and will serve as the governor’s liaison to several agencies, including the Pennsylvania State Police, the Homeland Security Office and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and several boards and commissions.

Kristen Miller, who is the IT office’s director of bureau of enterprise-wide projects, will serve as the acting deputy secretary for IT and acting chief information officer.

“Art’s initiatives in the Office of Administration have changed the way technology is planned for and managed in Pennsylvania, making it more efficient and cost effective,” Rendell said in a prepared statement. “He has promoted a collaborative approach to his responsibilities that will translate well into his new role.”

Stephens was appointed to CIO more than two years ago, responsible for all technology activities for executive branch agencies. He oversaw implementation of an integrated enterprise resource planning system for statewide human resource, payroll, budget, finance and procurement system needs. He also authored the Keystone Technology Plan, the first strategic technology plan for the state since 1996.

He currently serves on the SAP Public Sector Advisory Council, the Penn State Harrisburg IT Advisory Board, and the board of eBusiness Research Center for the Pennsylvania State University and is a member of the executive committee of National Association of State Chief Information Officers.