Indiana's technology leadership is about to experience a significant change with the departure of a key figure. Chief Information Officer Tracy Barnes, who has also been serving as Director of the Indiana Office of Technology (IOT), announced his plan to step down, Governor Eric J. Holcomb revealed this week. Barnes' tenure, spanning over four impactful years, will come to a close early next year, his last day being January 10, 2025. According to an announcement by the Indiana Office of Technology, Barnes played a pivotal role in advancing the state's technology infrastructure and cybersecurity measures.
"Tracy has truly taken our state technology infrastructure efforts to the Next Level and brought solutions to growing cybersecurity issues at all levels of government," Governor Holcomb stated to the Indiana Office of Technology. Despite taking the helm just as the pandemic took hold, Barnes' rapid response and strategic measures proved instrumental, not only in maintaining the state of Indiana's operations during the crisis, but also in developing enduring policies for state government security.
Since his appointment in March 2020, Barnes has overseen significant initiatives. His achievements include the implementation of extensive cybersecurity protections across state agencies, the development of a robust state program aimed at upskilling residents for technology careers, and a focus on diversifying the state's cloud consumption using a multi-cloud strategy. Notably, his time in office saw Indiana earn national acclaim for its data governance and transparency, and led the charge on digital government innovation, being first to launch an AI-powered chatbot to guide visitors through the state’s website. Barnes also played a vital role in increasing the accessibility of services for residents through the Access Indiana portal.
Prior to his leading role in the IOT, Barnes held the position of chief of staff for Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch. His contributions were marked by the initiation of the Indiana Broadband Office, an effort aimed at extending broadband services, particularly in underserved rural communities. His earlier professional chapter includes leadership as president and CEO of ENTAP, Inc., a national computer consulting firm.
