North Dakota governor-elect names state lawmaker as new CIO
Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who will take office as North Dakota’s new governor next month, on Wednesday announced he’s retaining a handful of Gov. Doug Burgum’s Cabinet members, while also appointing several new faces, including a chief information officer.
Armstrong, a Republican who vice-chairs the House’s Energy and Commerce Committee, named state Rep. Corey Mock, a Democrat, as his CIO. Mock, who did not seek another term in the legislature, will replace Greg Hoffman atop the North Dakota Information Technology Department.
According to the announcement, Hoffman, who was only promoted to CIO last July, will return to his role as the state’s deputy CIO. In an interview with StateScoop last summer, Hoffman said he was centering his efforts as the state’s top technology official around a whole-of-state cybersecurity strategy and finding new uses of generative artificial intelligence. Last October, he said he was leading creation of the state’s first detailed, statewide application inventory.
The new roles will become official when Armstrong’s term begins on Dec. 15.
According to the North Dakota legislative branch website, Mock is a realtor and business and leadership consultant who has served in the state house since 2009. He thanked the governor-elect in a statement Wednesday.
“Technology plays an increasingly crucial role in delivering efficient, secure government services to our citizens,” Mock said. “I look forward to working with the dedicated professionals at ITD to advance North Dakota’s position as a leader in digital government.”
Mock last year sponsored a bill that amended the duties of the state’s technology department, removing its authority of Veterans Home North Dakota, a retirement facility in Lisbon.
North Dakota’s IT department maintains a $275 million technology operating budget and 500 technology staff.
