Oklahoma City has a new IT Director at the helm of its digital landscape. City Manager Craig Freeman has named Dusty Borchardt to lead the Information Technology department, taking over duties from Schad Meldrum, who served the city for a quarter-century before his recent retirement. The handover, as reported by OKC.gov, is effective immediately, with Borchardt stepping into the new role with two decades of experience within the city's ranks.
"Dusty has been a valuable member of our team," Freeman was quoted saying, "earning a reputation for being an excellent project manager and strategic thinker." Borchardt's transition to director marks the culmination of a 20-year tenure with Oklahoma City, during which he has come to be known for his dedication and passion. These qualities are anticipated to greatly serve the community in his elevated position. In the selection announcement, Borchardt expressed his readiness "to build on our momentum, strengthen partnerships across the organization, and leverage technology to make a meaningful impact on the services we provide to our community," as mentioned in the City of Oklahoma City website.
The new IT Director will now supervise a team of 130 employees across three divisions. Borchardt's history with the city began in 2000 in the Utilities Department, where he focused on maintaining GIS data. His career progressed steadily after his move to the Information Technology Department in 2005. Notably, Borchardt ascended to the roles of Chief Technology Officer in 2019 and Assistant IT Director in 2024, with both positions underscoring his commitment to enhancing the city's technological infrastructure.
According to his educational background, Borchardt is well-prepared for his new challenges, holding a bachelor's degree in network management from Southern Nazarene University and prior studies in Management Information Systems at Oklahoma State University.
