DIR names new leaders to drive tech strategy

With nearly a month at the helm, Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) Executive Director and State Chief Information Officer Tony Sauerhoff is building a leadership team aligned with his focus on secure, data-driven modernization across state government.

Sauerhoff, himself, brings more than 30 years of experience in information technology and cybersecurity, including early work as a communications specialist in the U.S. Air Force and leadership roles in state and federal government. He most recently served as the state’s chief artificial intelligence and innovation officer, where he led efforts to advance the responsible use of emerging technologies.

His approach emphasizes building on an existing foundation while expanding the state’s use of artificial intelligence, improving data practices and strengthening shared technology services across agencies.

That strategy is reflected in a slate of mostly internal promotions, reinforcing institutional knowledge while aligning leadership roles with priorities such as technology execution, risk management and agency support. As part of this strategy, the DIR executive has announced a swathe of new appointments to guide that state’s IT modernization efforts.

Former General Counsel Josh Godbey has been named deputy executive director, where he will help align agency operations and support strategic priorities. Jennie Hoelscher steps into the general counsel role while continuing as chief privacy officer, and Michelle Romero has been promoted to deputy general counsel.

Brittney Booth Paylor moves from chief public affairs officer to chief of staff, serving as a senior adviser to Sauerhoff and overseeing program areas tied to the agency’s mission.

Longtime DIR leader John Hoffman will continue as chief technology officer while also taking on the role of deputy chief information officer, a move that reinforces the agency’s focus on technology strategy and execution following the departure of former deputy executive director Steve Pier.

Jenny Jackson joins the executive leadership team as chief compliance and risk officer, underscoring an increased emphasis on governance, risk management and accountability across the agency.

The only external hire is Chief Financial Officer Marie Simonds, who brings decades of experience in financial strategy, organizational management and large-scale technology implementation, adding operational depth to the leadership team.

In announcing the appointments, DIR said the changes are intended to strengthen alignment across the agency and position it to deliver on its strategic priorities, including secure and reliable technology services.

Among those priorities is helping state agencies move from experimentation to implementation with artificial intelligence. Sauerhoff has indicated that progress will depend in part on improving data quality and reliability, long cited as a challenge for effective AI use in government.

He has also emphasized a more coordinated approach across agencies, with DIR playing a larger role in supporting smaller and mid-sized agencies that may lack the resources to develop technology solutions on their own.

That combination of internal continuity and targeted outside expertise reflects Sauerhoff’s broader goal: expanding the state’s technology capabilities while ensuring systems remain secure, reliable and scalable as demand for digital services grows.

Photo by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, from Wikimedia Commons