About UsState CIO

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Meet Tim Bottenfield

Welcome to the State Information Technology Services Division (SITSD). SITSD delivers information technology services, plans, coordinates, trains, monitors, and secures information resources throughout Montana State government.

I am grateful to Governor Bullock for appointing me to the State CIO position, and I look forward to serving Montana in this important role. I am committed to ensuring the state of Montana remains a leader in the digital age. In this role, I will rely on my broad knowledge of IT, existing relationships, and an empathy for my colleagues’ responsibilities to further the governor’s goals of effective use of resources, boosting efficiency, and increasing transparency.

One of my main priorities is to meet Montana’s biennial State Information Technology Strategic Plan’s mission to provide secure, efficient, state-of-the art IT that empowers citizens and those that serve them. The strategies outlined in this plan are designed to create the capability and capacity to meet citizen needs expeditiously. We must accomplish this in an environment in which cyber threats are increasing in impact and frequency. As we continue to increase the ability to access and use data, we need to increase our ability to protect that data at an ever-increasing pace.

I believe the best way to serve the citizens of Montana is for SITSD to form lasting partnerships with our government agencies. I’ve instituted regular meetings with agency Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and staff to hear about their needs and concerns. I’ve also restructured SITSD’s administrative roles to more effectively serve customers and citizens. Along with technology services, we will provide outstanding security and business services, as well. The state is headed toward a more consistent approach to showcasing information and interacting with residents, but we must ensure agencies undertake the same tasks in a collaborative effort. I am committed to continuing to foster cooperation and collaboration between SITSD, agencies, and the citizens of Montana.

Tim Bottenfield
Chief Information Officer
State of Montana

TIM BOTTENFIELD'S BACKGROUND


Tim Bottenfield serves as CIO of the State of Montana. He joined the Department of Administration in July of 2018 after serving nearly seven years with the Department of Revenue. He came to Montana from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, where he worked for 25 years, primarily as IT manager in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. He has 10 years of experience in operating a computer and networking services consulting business. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in forest management in 1983 and a Master of Science degree in forest biometrics in 1986, both from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan.

 

Tim was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in Michigan. He resides in Helena, Montana with his wife, Gigi. Their three sons and daughter in-law are electrical engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh, Auburn University and Georgia Tech. Tim enjoys hiking and all that the mountains of Montana offer recreationally.