South Dakota names new CIO

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden last Thursday named Mark Wixon as the state’s new chief information officer and commissioner of the state’s Bureau of Information Technology.

Wixon replaces Madhu Gottumukkala, who left his position this month to become deputy director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

“South Dakota relies on leaders like Mark Wixon to maintain a statewide legacy of strength, safety, and freedom,” Rhoden said in last week’s announcement. “He is deeply committed to public service and has been a valuable asset to our state through his previous work with BIT. I trust that Mark will bring meaningful, strategic insight to the table as we serve the people of South Dakota.”

Gottumukkala, who held the lead technology role in South Dakota for nearly eight months, told StateScoop he aimed to balance the state’s near-term goals, like cybersecurity training, with long-term IT modernization efforts. Last February he helped the Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division launch a new title and vehicle registration system, 605Drive, which is expected to improve operational efficiency.

Rhoden said Wixon has a reputation for “effectively translating complex IT and cybersecurity concepts into business objective-driven technology decisions.”

“I am grateful to Governor Rhoden for this opportunity to serve the people of South Dakota,” Wixon said in the release. “My career in IT has been driven by the philosophy that innovative technology solutions can drive positive outcomes and enhance business performance. I look forward to continuing this mission and achieving great results for the agencies which serve this great State.”

Wixon previously served as director of agency support at BIT. He has more than 30 years of IT experience, and has held various roles at the Colorado utility Black Hills Energy, including positions in IT security governance and risk management, according to his LinkedIn profile.