Concourse

Nebraska

IT Status Report & Strategic Plan

February 23, 2026 · Version 2.0

Executive Summary

Governor

Jim Pillen (R)

CIO

Matthew McCarville

CISO

Abby Eccher-Young

IT Organization

Office of the CIO (OCIO), Department of Administrative Services

State Agencies

80

Population

2.0M

✓ Key Strengths

  • Data and AI Center of Excellence established in Omaha provides a dedicated hub for AI adoption, predictive analytics, and data management skills development -- positioning Nebraska as a leader among mid-sized states in practical AI implementation for government
  • Tyler Technologies digital services modernization partnership migrated nearly 50% of the state's application portfolio within 18 months using a low-code platform, demonstrating aggressive execution on legacy system replacement across multiple agencies including State Patrol and DMV
  • CIO McCarville's clean data-first modernization philosophy ensures data integrity is the foundation for all technology initiatives -- establishing robust data governance as a prerequisite for cloud migration, AI adoption, and cross-agency analytics
  • First-in-the-nation statewide IT apprenticeship program building a diverse talent pipeline to address retirement-driven workforce gaps, particularly in cybersecurity and data management, while reducing reliance on expensive contractor staffing

⚠ Key Risks

  • Projected $1 billion state budget deficit over two years constrains IT spending, with Governor Pillen's budget proposal including spending cuts across state departments -- OCIO must deliver modernization while demonstrating cost savings
  • Legacy mainframe and COBOL systems still supporting critical state operations create mounting technical debt, security vulnerabilities, and workforce risk as developers with mainframe expertise retire
  • Small BEAD allocation of ~$44.5M limits Nebraska's broadband deployment to the last 2% of unserved locations, while rural communities face ongoing affordability and adoption challenges beyond infrastructure deployment
  • CISO transition in February 2025 with Abby Eccher-Young assuming the role introduces leadership change risk during a period of increasing cyber threats targeting state and local government systems

Capability Areas

Capability Radar

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

Current IT Projects

ProjectStatusDescriptionTimeline
Mainframe-to-Cloud Migration ProgramPlanningStrategic transition from on-premise mainframe systems running COBOL and AS/400 to cloud-based infrastructure, enabling AI adoption, predictive analytics, and cost-efficient modern operations across state agencies.2025-2028
Data and AI Center of ExcellenceActiveOmaha-based center providing AI and data management skills development, internship opportunities, and practical implementation support for state agencies adopting emerging technologies.2025-Ongoing
BEAD Broadband DeploymentApproved$44.5M federal BEAD allocation plus $21M private investment targeting Nebraska's last 2% of unserved homes, farms, and small businesses with technology-neutral approach prioritizing fiber and long-term reliability.2025-2029
Tyler Technologies Digital Services ModernizationIn ProgressOngoing partnership migrating state applications from legacy platforms to Tyler's low-code Application Platform. 50% migrated in 18 months; second phase targeting remaining complex systems across multiple agencies.2024-2027
Statewide IT Apprenticeship ProgramActiveFirst-in-the-nation program building a diverse IT talent pipeline for state government, addressing retirement-driven workforce gaps in cybersecurity, data management, and application development.2025-Ongoing
Cybersecurity Framework ModernizationIn ProgressUnder new CISO Abby Eccher-Young, establishing security-first culture with updated policies, cross-agency cybersecurity standards, and enhanced threat detection and response capabilities aligned with NITC regulatory framework.2025-2026

100-Day Strategic Plan

Quick-win initiatives for immediate impact

200-Day Strategic Plan

Strategic initiatives for sustained transformation

Sources

  1. Nebraska Office of the CIO (OCIO) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  2. GovTech: Nebraska CIO on Preparing for Future Talent, Tech Needs (accessed 2026-02-23)
  3. CDO Magazine: The Key to Modernization is Ensuring Clean Data -- Nebraska State CIO (accessed 2026-02-23)
  4. CDO Magazine: Government Reimagined -- Nebraska CIO's Blueprint for Statewide IT (accessed 2026-02-23)
  5. GovLoop: Coping With a Tighter Budget in Nebraska (accessed 2026-02-23)
  6. Tyler Technologies: Nebraska Modernizes Digital Services (Case Study) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  7. GovTech: Nebraska's New CIO Has State, Education C-Level Expertise (accessed 2026-02-23)
  8. Governor Pillen: Federal Approval of Nebraska's BEAD Final Proposal (accessed 2026-02-23)
  9. Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) BEAD Program (accessed 2026-02-23)
  10. Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC) November 2025 Meeting (accessed 2026-02-23)
  11. OCIO Vision: State Enterprise Technology Roadmap (accessed 2026-02-23)
  12. Abby Eccher-Young, Nebraska CISO (LinkedIn Profile) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  13. AI-CCORE: UNO AI Center for Collaborative Outreach, Research & Education (accessed 2026-02-23)
  14. Silicon Prairie News: Nebraska AI Regulation and Business Innovation Act (accessed 2026-02-23)
  15. Nebraska Legislature Broadband Development Annual Report 2025 (accessed 2026-02-23)
  16. Governor Pillen: Strong Economic Data (GDP, Personal Income Growth) (accessed 2026-02-23)