FSU CIO Jonathan Fozard Appointed to Government Technology Modernization Council
On March 6, 2024, the Florida State Senate passed Senate Bill 1680, establishing the Government Technology Modernization Council. The Council examines and monitors the development and implementation of new technologies and shares these reports and recommendations with the Florida government. Given the Council’s importance, it is composed of multiple high-ranking officials, including the lieutenant governor, the state chief information officer, one member each from the Senate and House of Representatives, five executives representing various state departments and five representatives with senior level experience in technology-related fields.
Jonathan Fozard, FSU chief information officer and established expert in artificial intelligence, received a four-year appointment to the Council. Receiving an appointment to the Council provides Jonathan with the opportunity to serve the citizens of Florida and advance technology across the state.
I'm incredibly humbled and honored to announce my appointment by Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo to the Government Technology Modernization Council. I am excited to collaborate with other council members, industry leaders and policy experts to achieve even more great things in Florida. As the Council continues to grow, our goals will focus on the evaluation and deployment of artificial intelligence systems.
Jonathan and his fellow council members will meet quarterly to discuss and work towards several key objectives over the next few years, including:
- Recommending legislative and administrative actions that can further advance Florida’s technology modernization
- Creating an ethics framework for AI in state government
- Assessing identity management systems on legal Floridian rights
- Reviewing common standards for AI and security measures
- Evaluating how government entities and the private sector are utilizing artificial intelligence, with a focus on opportunities for deployment across state systems
- Discussing how AI is used by bad actors
- Gauging the importance of creating school curriculum regarding digital media and visual literacy skills
Through these initiatives, the Council aims to shape the future of AI in Florida by ensuring its responsible implementation and addressing opportunities in technology across the state.
