After nearly three decades in state government, South Dakota Chief Technology Officer Pat Snow is set to retire this year.

Montana, which is targeting spring 2021 to retire its mainframe, may be the exception that proves the rule that mainframes are essential technology for states.

The future of Pat Snow, the state chief information officer who's been with South Dakota for 23 years, is unclear.

The National Association of State Technology directors will release its first set of data later this year following a new state IT research initiative.

The state's top IT official since April, Snow is one of several current Cabinet officials Gov.-elect Kristi Noem said she plans to keep when she takes office.

State CIO Pat Snow says the state is looking to expand its services portfolio in a way few other states have.

Snow will serve in an interim capacity through the end of this year following the retirement of longtime CIO William “David” Zolnowsky.

In partnership with the South Dakota Department of Education, the South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications will work throughout the summer to increase bandwidth to 159…