City reveals new CIO

Austin has a new chief information officer. Chris Stewart will start in his new position, which oversees the Communications and Technology Management Department, on May 10. Stewart has worked for the city for more than 20 years, most recently as CIO of Austin Water. “I look forward to continuing my service to the city of Austin providing technology solutions that ensure the best possible customer service to our department stakeholders and residents,” Stewart said in a press release from the city. The release goes on to explain what the communications department does: “CTM manages three major programs: Communications and Technology Management; the Combined Transportation, Emergency and Communications Center (CTECC); and Wireless Communication Services. CTM’s customer base also includes other governmental entities that are members of the Greater Austin/Travis County Regional Radio System (GATRRS) as well as the partners of CTECC. The CTM Department is the principal IT department for the city of Austin and provides centralized IT services and business units across the municipal organization.”