Austin Hired New Deputy CIO Jorge Cardenas

The city brings in a veteran technology lead to oversee enterprise strategy after his tenure in Brownsville.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Data Centers

Austin Hired New Deputy CIO Jorge Cardenas

The city of Austin has appointed Jorge Cardenas as its new deputy chief information officer. Cardenas joins the leadership team following more than four years serving as the first-ever CIO for the city of Brownsville.

Why it matters

Cardenas brings experience in large-scale digital transformation and smart city projects to Austin. His appointment arrives as municipalities across Texas look to scale their infrastructure and modernize enterprise technology stacks.

During his tenure in Brownsville, Cardenas oversaw the installation of more than 100 miles of fiber infrastructure. He previously earned a ranking of 25 in the Top Doers, Dreamers and Drivers list for his enterprise technology strategy work.

The players

Jorge Cardenas

The new deputy chief information officer for Austin who previously served as the first CIO of Brownsville.

City of Austin

The municipal government now managing Cardenas's enterprise technology strategy and digital transformation.

City of Brownsville

The municipal government where Cardenas led the installation of 100 miles of fiber infrastructure.

The details

Cardenas joins Austin after spending over four years driving digital modernization in Brownsville, where he acted as that city's inaugural CIO. In that role, he focused on smart city infrastructure, which integrates sensors and data-driven systems to manage urban utilities and traffic, alongside significant broadband expansion. He brings a background in logistics and leadership from his eight years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Monday: Cardenas announced his move to the Austin technology team.

The Tech Race

This appointment follows a pattern set by the Top Doers, Dreamers and Drivers rankings, which identify municipal leaders pushing digital transformation. Cardenas enters the role after a documented history of executing multi-year broadband expansion projects.

Residents should expect a transition phase as Cardenas begins by meeting the team and auditing current technology initiatives. His focus on fiber and smart city infrastructure could influence the long-term trajectory of municipal connectivity services in Austin.

The takeaway

Cardenas brings a proven track record of scaling fiber infrastructure to the Austin government. Observers should track his initial department audits to identify which legacy systems will be prioritized for digital transformation in the coming fiscal year.