About UsState CIO

State Chief Information Officer

Meet Ron Baldwin

Welcome to the State Information Technology Service Division (SITSD) website. SITSD is responsible for the delivery of information technology services, as well as the planning, coordinating, training, monitoring and securing of information resources throughout Montana state government.

Ron Baldwin CIOI was honored to be appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the State of Montana in January 2013 by Gov. Steve Bullock. I am excited to be in a position to promote collaboration with state agencies, cities and counties, higher education programs, and other statewide municipalities served by SITSD. The division’s 195 employees are proud to provide IT expertise and services to help these organizations fulfill their mission and meet the needs of Montana’s citizens.

Together, we can continue to lay the foundation to make Montana a leader in government IT, and further the governor’s goals of creating jobs, investing in education and making government more effective. Through partnership and innovation, I know that we can build a statewide IT enterprise that ensures our agencies and their employees have the necessary tools and infrastructure to work efficiently and effectively.

This is a challenging task – complicated by rapidly evolving technologies, fluctuating equipment prices and fees, complex workforce issues, and in Montana’s case, rural and rugged terrain.

Five years ago, very few of us fully understood the impact that mobile technology, cloud computing, big data, geographical information systems and various social media would have on government agencies and how they serve their customers. Today, as new concepts and systems become woven into the work environment, we learn that “change” is constant and to be truly innovative, we must be willing to let go of outdated models and embrace new designs.

In my first year as CIO, I have worked with SITSD employees to restructure the division to more effectively serve our customers. We have created policies to ensure the protection and security of data in our systems, and partnered with Montana’s agencies to make e-government services, including specialized mobile applications, more seamless and effective. We published a 2016 Statewide IT Strategic Plan that promotes our “vision” as IT professionals for connecting people and systems across the state.

I am honored to serve Montana in this position and eager to find new opportunities to support this great state. If you have ideas regarding how SITSD can better assist its customers and Montana residents, I welcome your comments.

Ron Baldwin
Chief Information Officer

​Ron Baldwin's Background

Ron Baldwin has spent 30 years managing, designing, and building information technology solutions in the government and private sectors. He is a professional project manager who has overseen multi-million dollar budgets and has experience working with the legislative and executive branches of state government and with federal programs. Baldwin has degrees in Computer Science and Biology/Chemistry. In addition, he holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Prior to his appointment by Gov. Steve Bullock to serve as the State CIO, Baldwin was the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, a $2 billion government agency with 3,100 employees. He was responsible for overseeing the contracting, management, implementation, and operations of information systems and infrastructure that directly support programs promoting the health and welfare of Montana citizens. This included an IT project portfolio of $100 million.

Ron and his wife, Jean, have a son, Jeffrey. When he is not in the office, Baldwin is an adjunct professor at Carroll College in Helena where he teaches project management. He enjoys camping, hiking, piano and classical music, which he locally supports as a member of the Helena Symphony Board of Directors.