Concourse

Mississippi

IT Status Report & Strategic Plan

February 23, 2026 · Version 2.0

Executive Summary

Governor

Tate Reeves (R)

CIO

Dr. Craig P. Orgeron

CISO

Jay White

IT Organization

Department of Information Technology Services (ITS)

State Agencies

130

Population

3.0M

✓ Key Strengths

  • AI Innovation Hub launched January 2025 in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) -- one of the most proactive state-level AI implementation programs nationally with pilot projects already deployed
  • Senate Bill 2625 advancing to elevate CIO to cabinet-level position with independent authority over IT modernization, cybersecurity strategy, and technology planning -- signaling strong legislative support for technology leadership
  • $508M BEAD allocation approved February 2026 targeting 93,000 unserved households with $321M in additional private ISP investment, representing one of the largest per-capita broadband investments nationally
  • Massive private sector technology investment with Amazon's $13B+ commitment across Madison County ($10B) and Vicksburg ($3B) data center campuses creating 'Digital Delta' vision and transforming Mississippi's technology economy

⚠ Key Risks

  • 84% of state agencies lack formal AI policies despite 51% actively using AI across 243 projects -- governance gap creates compliance, security, and bias risks as AI adoption accelerates without standardized guardrails
  • CIO position currently embedded within ITS rather than independent cabinet-level authority -- SB 2625 would address this but remains in legislative process, limiting strategic influence until enacted
  • Mississippi's population declining 0.2% (2025 estimate) and historically lower state employee compensation create persistent workforce recruitment challenges for technology positions competing with Amazon and data center employers
  • 130 state agencies with varying technical maturity levels and limited centralized IT governance create fragmented technology landscape requiring significant coordination effort from ITS

Capability Areas

Capability Radar

Cybersecurity & …AI & AutomationDigital Governme…Data Management …Workforce & TalentCloud ServicesBroadband & Conn…IT Procurement &…Interoperability…Legacy Moderniza…
Mississippi

Current IT Projects

ProjectStatusDescriptionTimeline
AI Innovation Hub and Pilot ProgramsActiveITS AI Innovation Hub in partnership with AWS and MAIN supporting pilot projects in food insecurity, Secretary of State operations, and procurement (Procurii chatbot). Over 20 use cases submitted for development with university student teams building solutions.2025-2027
BEAD Broadband DeploymentApproved$508M federal broadband program targeting 93,000 unserved households managed by BEAM office. $321M in private ISP co-investment committed. Federal approval received February 9, 2026. Detailed mapping and compliance monitoring framework in place.2026-2030
SB 2625: Cabinet-Level CIO LegislationIn CommitteeSenate Bill 2625 advancing to elevate the State CIO to a cabinet-level position with independent authority over IT modernization, cybersecurity strategy, and technology planning. Passed Senate Government Structure Committee.2026
Cloud Center of ExcellenceActiveITS Cloud Center of Excellence establishing standards, best practices, and support for cloud adoption across state agencies. Built on AWS partnership and aligned with AI Innovation Hub infrastructure.2025-2027
HB 546: Procurement and Cloud ModernizationProposedHouse Bill 546 establishing Procurement Modernization Advisory Council, centralized cloud storage center, and cross-agency data integration framework. Nine-member council including ITS and AI Network representatives.2026-2028
MAI-TAP AI Workforce DevelopmentActive$9.1M Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program providing grants to universities including Alcorn State ($1.15M), Jackson State ($1.3M), Millsaps College ($1M), and Belhaven University ($390K) for AI/ML curriculum and workforce training.2025-2028

100-Day Strategic Plan

Quick-win initiatives for immediate impact

200-Day Strategic Plan

Strategic initiatives for sustained transformation

Sources

  1. Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  2. ITS AI Innovation Hub (accessed 2026-02-23)
  3. GovTech: Mississippi AI Innovation Hub's New Chatbot Targets Procurement (Procurii) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  4. GovTech: Through AI, Cloud Services, Mississippi Looks to Update Its Tech (accessed 2026-02-23)
  5. GovTech: Mississippi Bill Moves to Reshape State Tech Leadership (SB 2625) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  6. GovTech: Mississippi IT Services Names First Chief Strategy Officer (Stephanie Hedgepeth) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  7. Mississippi AI Acceptable Use Policy Briefing (accessed 2026-02-23)
  8. Governor Reeves: BEAD Final Proposal Approved (accessed 2026-02-23)
  9. BEAM: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (accessed 2026-02-23)
  10. Governor Reeves: Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program (MAI-TAP) Launch (accessed 2026-02-23)
  11. Amazon Invests $3 Billion in Mississippi Data Centers (Vicksburg) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  12. Mississippi Free Press: Amazon $3B Data Center in Vicksburg (accessed 2026-02-23)
  13. ITS Directors and Staff (accessed 2026-02-23)
  14. ITS Executive Director: Dr. Craig P. Orgeron (accessed 2026-02-23)
  15. Mississippi House Bill 546 (2026): Procurement and Cloud Modernization (accessed 2026-02-23)
  16. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Mississippi (Population Estimate July 2025) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  17. Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) (accessed 2026-02-23)