Saluting Texas Lone Stars: The Lone Star section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across Texas’ public sector landscape. This week’s Lone Star profile is Brian Gardner, the city of Austin’s Chief Information Security Officer.
Your public career highlights and education
By this upcoming December 7th, I will have proudly served in public service for eight years. Before transitioning to the public sector, I spent a significant portion of my IT career in the healthcare industry, where I developed a strong foundation in technology and information security.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Fraud, along with both a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Information Security. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of holding roles that not only challenged me but reaffirmed my passion for protecting critical systems and data. Two particular moments stand out as highlights: first, when I was appointed Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the City of Dallas, and later when I was given the opportunity to serve in the same capacity here in Austin. Returning to that role in a different city was a powerful reminder of my deep commitment to public service and information security.
At the same time, I’ve embraced the unique challenges and responsibilities that have come with each leadership position I’ve held — from Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to Chief Information Officer (CIO). Each role has broadened my perspective and strengthened my resolve to contribute meaningfully to the mission of the organizations I serve.
I have a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of public affairs degree from the University of Texas at Austin. I also completed the Governor’s Executive Development Program.
What you like best about public service
What I like best about public service is the opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself—something that directly benefits the community I live in. It reminds me a lot of healthcare in that way: it’s about service, impact, and contributing to the greater good. Even though my role is behind the scenes, I know the work I do helps move the city forward.
An example of some of the best advice you have ever received
The best advice I ever received was remember it is people, process and tech. You need your people first as they manage everything in processes and technology.
Something you wish more people knew about the division of government you serve
I wish more residents and businesses understood just how digital today’s government operations have become—and how significantly that impacts their day-to-day interactions with the city. From submitting service requests and paying bills online to accessing public records and participating in virtual town halls, technology now touches almost every aspect of how we serve the community. The services people rely on are powered by digital infrastructure working behind the scenes to ensure efficiency, accessibility, and security. Our division plays a critical role in maintaining and advancing these digital systems, often without public visibility.
Any current project or initiative that you are working on
The city is working on a large modernization and consolidation of all of the IT service delivery. This should assist the city cost savings and better IT service delivery, security and management of the city’s data.
One thing outside of government service people may not know about you
My wife and I adopted seven kids after fostering 29 children over ten years. We actively foster children from the region in hopes to provide them a better start. We fostered from infant to teenagers. All but three are now out of the house and living on their own.