Michigan CIO quietly resigns, governor names acting replacement
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday announced that Eric Swanson, a shared solutions director at the state’s technology department, has been named as Michigan’s acting chief information officer.
The final sentence of a press release from the governor’s office notes that Laura Clark, who served as state CIO the last five years, “resigned to pursue an opportunity outside state government,” but offers no additional details. Clark worked in technology roles inside the Michigan state government for nearly two decades.
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget did not respond to phone calls and emails requesting more information. Clark could not be reached for comment.
“In our changing world, it’s more important than ever to protect Michigan’s people and state government from cyber threats,” Whitmer said in the press release, adding that Swanson was among those who helped improve the state’s cybersecurity.
As acting CIO, Swanson will continue to serve as director of the Center for Shared Solutions at the technology bureau. According to the release, Swanson helped develop the center, which provides technology services common to many state agencies, after joining the Michigan state government as a student intern.
Clark, who on Friday was still listed on Michigan’s website as the statewide CIO, built a career in Michigan that stretches back almost 20 years. According to her LinkedIn profile, she started as a geo-framework services manager in 2006. She held various other technology roles, including chief technology officer, deputy chief security officer and chief security officer, before Whitmer in 2021 added CIO to her responsibilities.
This publication’s readership last year voted Clark as a GoldenGov state executive of the year, honoring her “hands-on, adaptable approach to leadership” and her work developing the Michigan Secure mobile app, which provides alerts to users who connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks or encounter other potential online threats.
Incidentally, the announcement of a new Michigan CIO follows Whitmer on Thursday signing an executive order restructuring some of the state government’s boards, councils and commissions. The changes affect at least 10 executive agencies, including the state technology department, which houses the state archives. The Department of Technology, Management & Budget will now oversee the Michigan State Historical Records Advisory Board. According to a press release, this will “streamline the records retention work the board supports.”
