TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Monday announced the appointment of Kevin Dehmer as New Jersey’s next chief technology officer, placing him in charge of the state Office of Information Technology.
As chief technology officer, Dehmer will oversee efforts to modernize New Jersey’s digital infrastructure, improve efficiency and transparency in the state permitting process, adopt technology to reduce licensure backlogs and wait times, and strengthen cybersecurity protections in response to emerging artificial intelligence-driven threats, the governor’s office said.
“I am pleased to announce Kevin Dehmer as my choice to lead the New Jersey Office of Information Technology. Kevin is a trusted and experienced public servant who has dedicated his career to strengthening our state’s nation-leading public education system. In doing so, he has implemented impressive reforms to modernize New Jersey’s education data systems,” Sherrill said. “I look forward to working with Kevin to institute similar modernization efforts across our state’s digital infrastructure. Improving how our state government uses technology is fundamental to eliminating bureaucracy and saving our residents time and money.”
Dehmer said he looks forward to continuing his public service in the new role.
“As a lifelong public servant, I am honored for the opportunity to continue serving New Jersey as the state’s Chief Technology Officer. I look forward to supporting Governor Sherrill’s efforts to bolster our state’s digital infrastructure, ensuring state agencies can serve New Jersey residents more effectively and efficiently while also maintaining a strong emphasis on cybersecurity,” Dehmer said.
Since 2024, Dehmer has served as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, where he oversaw statewide education policy for more than 600 public school districts and administered more than one-third of the state’s overall budget supporting public schools. During his tenure, he led a comprehensive redesign of the state’s education data systems aimed at improving research, program evaluation and data quality.
Before becoming commissioner, Dehmer served as executive director and senior researcher at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. He previously spent more than 15 years at the Department of Education in a variety of leadership roles, including assistant commissioner and chief financial officer, and served twice as interim commissioner.
Dehmer earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from St. John’s University and a master’s degree in public policy from Rutgers University, where he was also a graduate fellow at the Eagleton Institute.
