Gov. Asa Hutchinson has named an old friend and long-time Republican political operator, Mark Myers, to head the Department of Information Systems, the troubled state agency once headed by Claire Bailey.
Hutchinson said Myers had a technology background during his military service and understands the importance of the position.
Myers has been director of strategic initiatives at the secretary of state since 2011. There, he put his tech talents to work on Twitter, often with acerbic defenses of his boss Mark Martin. He managed during his time at the office to work on post-graduate college courses.
He’s a graduate of the Army Signal School and a major in the Army Reserves, with active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. His past work includes campaign consulting and a marketing company.
He steps into an agency criticized for the quality and cost of its services to public schools. It was the subject of a tough audit shortly after director Claire Bailey submitted her resignation as director. Former Democratic House Speaker Herschel Cleveland has been interim director since.
I’d expect some major changes to come at this agency. And appropriately so.