Dear TAGITM Members,

It is an incredible honor to serve as your President for the upcoming year. I want to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to our past President, Shane McDaniel, and the TAGITM Board for their outstanding leadership and dedication. TAGITM continues to thrive because of the collective passion, professionalism, and innovation each of you brings to our community.

We are living in a time of rapid technological evolution; one where public sector IT leaders must not only keep pace with change but often lead it. Whether it’s navigating cybersecurity challenges, deploying smart infrastructure, or building resilient digital services for our communities, the work you do matters deeply.

As we look ahead, my focus is on strengthening collaboration, fostering professional development, and elevating TAGITM’s voice across the state. Our upcoming initiatives will center on expanding educational opportunities, enhancing peer networking, and sharing best practices from across Texas.

I’m especially excited about the opportunity to build upon our strong foundation and embrace the momentum of change that is reshaping how we serve. This year, I’m energized to spotlight some of the most transformative and timely topics in our field with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Operational Technology (OT), and innovation in local government.

AI is rapidly moving from concept to reality in our cities and counties, from intelligent automation to data-driven decision-making. OT has long been integral to our infrastructure operations, and securing it is more critical than ever as cyber threats continue to escalate. Meanwhile, innovation remains the heartbeat of progress with modernizing services, strengthening cybersecurity, and improving the digital experience for our residents.

TAGITM is uniquely positioned to lead these conversations and turn ideas into action. Through new thought leadership forums, deeper statewide collaboration, and a continued emphasis on professional development, we’ll navigate these evolving technologies together, with clarity, purpose, and a shared mission to serve.

Please know that this is your association. The value we create comes from your engagement, ideas, and contributions. I encourage you to get involved by joining a committee, mentoring a colleague, or sharing your success stories. Together, we can continue to build a smarter, stronger, and more secure future for the communities we serve.

Thank you again for the opportunity to lead. I look forward to a productive, inspiring year ahead.

Warm regards,

James O’Brien, CISSP, CGCIO