Harrisburg, PA – For the second year in a row, StateScoop.com, one of the leading publications focused on state and local government technology, has named Commonwealth Chief Information Officer (CIO) Bry Pardoe one of the nation’s top technology leaders, earning a place on the 2026 StateScoop 50 Awards.
“Bry Pardoe has changed the trajectory of digital government in Pennsylvania,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “From the earliest days of CODE PA to her current leadership as CIO, Bry has brought vision, discipline, and an unwavering belief in the power of technology to improve people’s lives.”
“Being recognized again is a reflection of the incredible talent and commitment across our technology teams,” said CIO Pardoe. “I’m grateful to help lead a vision that improves digital services for Pennsylvanians and sets a new standard for what government can deliver.”
Earlier this year, members of the state and local IT community nominated hundreds of leaders and projects for the 2025 StateScoop 50 Awards. StateScoop narrowed the list to 140 finalists and readers cast more than 1.5 million votes to select the honorees. This year’s awards include leaders and projects from 22 states, along with executives from 12 companies. Pardoe is among 15 state IT executives in the “GoldenGov” category for outstanding leadership in using technology to drive innovation and efficiency in state government.
As Commonwealth CIO, Pardoe is focused on advancing the Shapiro Administration’s priorities for technology, including digital experience, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Her priorities include:
- Strengthening statewide cybersecurity, including zero-trust safeguards and expanded monitoring
- Retiring decades-old legacy systems and replacing them with scalable, cloud-first platforms
- Expanding shared digital infrastructure, ensuring agencies can build services faster and cheaper
- Integrating user-centered design across all major technology projects
Before becoming CIO in October 2025, Pardoe served as the first executive director of the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA). Governor Shapiro created CODE PA in 2023 to improve how Pennsylvanians interact with state agencies through simple, seamless, and secure digital services designed around the needs of the people who use them. Pardoe built the office from the ground up, hiring the leadership team and staff who would go on to launch acclaimed projects such as the:
- Redesign and ongoing optimization of PA.gov into a single, cohesive online experience that makes it easier to access online services
- First-in-the-nation PAyback money-back guarantee system for permits, licenses, and certifications across state agencies
- My Benefits Status Tracker for Pennsylvanians to track the status of their applications for programs like LIHEAP and SNAP
- Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit eligibility calculator to help Pennsylvanians put money back into their pockets
- A fully online application for Pennsylvanians seeking clemency
At the same time, CODE PA has saved the Commonwealth over $10 million by using its in-house digital team to work on projects instead of costly outside contractors.
Under Pardoe’s leadership, CODE PA supported the Commonwealth’s first-in-the-nation pilot of ChatGPT Enterprise by leading user experience research to collect and analyze feedback from Commonwealth employees. Pennsylvania was recently ranked by Code for America as a one of the top states for effective AI implementation and impact in its 2026 Government AI Landscape Analysis. Pennsylvania received the highest rating possible for AI readiness and was a top-rated state for AI piloting, implementation, and impact. Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, Pennsylvania has emerged as a national leader in safe and responsible AI, balancing innovation while protecting residents.
The Office of Administration (OA) has also strengthened cybersecurity under the Shapiro Administration through year-over-year investments to protect state systems from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. OA has leveraged funding in the Governor’s previous two budgets to enhance monitoring across Commonwealth networks and applications, improve real-time detection capabilities, and accelerate response to potential incidents. The Governor’s proposed 2026-27 budget calls for an additional $10 million investment in cybersecurity to protect critical services, reduce the risk of disruption, and ensure that government systems remain secure.
At a time when technology shapes nearly every part of daily life, Governor Shapiro has made clear that Pennsylvania must lead with innovation. His commitment to strengthening online services ensures the Commonwealth will remain a leader in delivering efficient, user-friendly, and forward‑looking solutions for every Pennsylvanian.
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