Texas names new internal CIO to lead AI efforts for state’s tech agency
The Texas Department of Information Resources announced on Monday that Amy Kelley, a tech official who has overseen state and city retirement systems in Texas, had been hired to serve as the agency’s new internal chief information officer, a role that includes leading the agency’s artificial intelligence division.
In the position, Kelley will lead the agency’s IT services team, as well as the AI and innovation team. Blake Rohde, DIR’s director of media and communications, told StateScoop that the new role is an “evolution of our Chief AI and Innovation Officer role and heads the Office of the Chief Information Officer, overseeing the agency’s internal IT infrastructure and services, and the AI division established by House Bill 2818 (89R).”
Kelley will work alongside Tony Sauerhoff, who was the first to hold the state’s chief AI and innovation officer role, which was created in October 2025. In that position, he led statewide work to adopt AI and other emerging technologies. In January 2026, Sauerhoff was appointed to serve as the interim statewide CIO and executive director of DIR, replacing Amanda Crawford, who was appointed Gov. Greg Abbott to serve as his insurance commissioner.
After serving as interim CIO from January 2026, Sauerhoff was named the permanent statewide technology chief in March 2026.
According to her LinkedIn page, Kelley most recently freelanced security services from February to this month, through her own firm. From April 2025 until February, she served as the director of information security for the Texas Municipal Retirement System, the state’s public retirement system that provides retirement, disability and death benefits to over a quarter million Texans. From May 2018 until January 2025, she served as the CIO and acting chief information security officer for COAERS, the City of Austin Employees’ Retirement System.
