| | June 20166CIOReviewBy:Stephen T. Monaghan, CIO, Nevada County, CAWhile technology has always been critical to government organizations, now is a particularly crucial time where multiple factors are driving the need for increased IT leadership. The challenge is twofold--with the pressing need for increased IT leadership whiles concurrently the most experienced and impactful IT people are retiring at accelerating rates.As a government CIO for the past 16 years, I can truly say now is the most fun and exciting time to be at our organization's IT helm. Technology is changing so fast, with new breakthroughs coming out daily. IT has never seemed to hold so much transformational promise as it does now. However, the hyper escalation of cybersecurity threats and breach events reported in the news daily makes it hard sometimes to sleep at night.Governments will not capitalize on technology advancements, all the promise IT presents, and IT's transformational capabilities without addressing the IT leadership challenges facing us now.The Silver Tsunami: Public Agency's IT leaders are retiring at accelerating rates. AARP states that 8,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day and will for the next 18 years. ADP Research Institute states that in 2014, 19 percent of the public administration Developing IT Leadership is Job #1workforce will reach at the age 61 and is estimated to rise to 28 percent by 2018. The average public `office worker' employee retires at age 60 driving the critical need to develop IT leadership now.\Cybersecurity and IT Risks: Data from the National Cyber Security Review and many other IT security organizations indicate that public sector organizations are lagging. IT leaders need to dig in and start comprehensively addressing cybersecurity challenges and engaging their entire organization.Cloud, IoT, Big Data, Smart Communities: These all require strategy, integration, cybersecurity, contract, risk, and talent management. These technologies represent IT's true promise and transformational opportunities for governmentorganizations. CIO's need to figure out how they can enable their staff to work on this high value stuff. IT leaders need the skills to drive change Stephen T. MonaghanIN MY OPINION
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