Madhu Gottumukkala has been appointed as commissioner of the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT) by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, according to a recent announcement.
He was recently appointed the chief technology officer for BIT and serves on the advisory committee of the College of Business and Information Systems at Dakota State University.
“South Dakota has made tremendous investments to improve our IT infrastructure, and Madhu is the right person to carry that momentum forward,” said Noem in a statement. “He will focus on putting our citizens first, protecting their data, and helping all of state government serve the people of South Dakota.”
Gottumukkala has over 20 years of experience in IT, according to the release, and has held leadership positions including senior director of IT for business solutions at Sanford Health.
“I’m truly honored and excited to step into the role of Commissioner for BIT. I’m deeply grateful to Governor Noem for the trust placed in me and eager to make a meaningful impact by driving innovative and secure technology solutions across our state,” Gottumukkala said in a statement about his appointment, which officially began on Sept. 9.
“I look forward to working closely with our government and communities to enhance our digital infrastructure, empower our citizens, and build a stronger, more connected future for all South Dakotan,” he continued.
Gottumukkala replaced Jeff Clines – who held the position since 2020 – after he recently left to serve as the chief information officer for Wyo. Gov. Mark Gordon.
Gottumukkala received his Master of Science in computer science engineering from the University of Texas Arlington, a Master of Business Administration in engineering and technology management from the University of Dallas, and a PhD in information systems from Dakota State University.
