Nate Denny was sworn in Wednesday as North Carolina's secretary and state chief information officer, according to the N.C. Department of Information Technology. The ceremony marks his formal return to the agency after several years leading its broadband and digital equity work.
Announcement Bounces From DIT To Governor’s X Feed
The N.C. Department of Information Technology shared a congratulatory post on X showing Denny taking the oath and noting that Rep. Zack Forde-Hawkins administered it. Governor Josh Stein later retweeted the announcement, according to X.
How Denny Landed The Top Tech Job
Governor Stein's office first announced Denny's appointment on March 19 and said he would start on April 6. That release also notes that Denny led the state's broadband expansion as deputy secretary, previously served at the U.S. General Services Administration, and is an Elizabeth City native who studied at UNC-Chapel Hill and earned a law degree from the University of Richmond, according to the Governor's Office.
What He Will Be Managing
NCDIT has spent recent years expanding broadband, strengthening cybersecurity and standing up AI governance programs, and Denny led the broadband push as deputy secretary, according to NCDIT. The agency and the state's broadband office say NCDIT is directing roughly $1.1 billion in state and federal funds toward broadband infrastructure and digital equity programs, putting Denny at the center of a major funding rollout, per the NC Broadband Office.
The change keeps a veteran broadband leader at the helm as officials finish rolling out grants and programs aimed at closing the digital divide. For media inquiries the governor's release lists [email protected] as the contact.
