George Bakolia was appointed North Carolina's Chief Information Officer by Governor Mike Easley in 2002.
The State CIO has dual roles in managing information technology for the State of North Carolina. Statewide responsibilities, those that cut across agency lines, include project approval and oversight, IT procurement, security and information technology planning and budgeting.
The State CIO also plays an operational role by leading the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), which supplies some of the information technology used by state agencies and local governments. ITS has 540 employees and an annual budget of approximately $240 million.
Under Bakolia’s leadership, the State has constructed and equipped a $32.5 million data center in Western North Carolina that will provide disaster recovery and other capabilities and launched a program to consolidate the IT infrastructure in state agencies. A bulk purchasing program for personal computers and printers initiated by Bakolia saved the state more than $30 million over a 3½-year period.
As part of ITS’ Operational Excellence Program, more than 900 employees of ITS and other state agencies have received foundation training courses in the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). Advance training has been provided to more than 100. The program has received two national awards.
Bakolia received the 2006 Public Leadership in Technology Award from the N.C. Technology Association.
The State CIO is chair of the 911 Board, and Bakolia is a member of the Governor's Terrorism Preparedness Task Force, the e-NC Authority, and the Board of Directors of the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina.
Bakolia has almost 30 years of experience in information systems in both the public and private sectors. Prior to his appointment by Governor Mike Easley in 2002, he was the Chief Information Officer at the North Carolina Department of Justice.
He spent more than a decade in the private sector before joining state government. Bakolia worked for the Unisys Corporation, supporting United Airlines as well as state of North Carolina clients, from 1985 until 1990. He held various positions at Sperry Corporation from 1979 to 1985.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in computer science at CUNY Queens College in New York.
Bakolia and his wife have two children. He is an avid soccer and hockey fan.
