Labor Department Appoints New Deputy CIOs
The Department of Labor has officially onboarded May Cheng and Dennis Papula to lead its IT and mission support divisions.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in People
The U.S. Department of Labor has appointed May Cheng as deputy chief information officer for operations and governance. Additionally, Dennis Papula has joined the agency to serve as the deputy CIO for mission support.
Why it matters
These appointments are intended to bolster the agency's internal leadership, focusing on technology modernization, cybersecurity, and governance. The new roles are designed to support the Department of Labor's evolving digital infrastructure requirements.
May Cheng oversees an annual IT capital investment portfolio of $30 million. She brings over a decade of experience across various federal departments, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
The players
May Cheng
She is the newly appointed deputy chief information officer for operations and governance at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Dennis Papula
He serves as the newly appointed deputy CIO for mission support at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Mangala Kuppa
She is the chief information officer for the U.S. Department of Labor.
The details
May Cheng will manage OCIO portfolios encompassing information technology operations, services, administration, and business management. Her colleague Dennis Papula officially began his new role within the department on September 6, 2026.
Timeline
May Cheng served as deputy IT director for the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs from October 2012 to July 2014.
May Cheng led IT investment management at the Office of Personnel Management from November 2015 to May 2021.
May Cheng served as deputy CIO at the International Trade Administration from May 2021 to October 2026.
Dennis Papula joined the Department of Labor as deputy CIO for mission support on September 6, 2026.
May Cheng began her role at the Department of Labor on October 4, 2026.
Market Landscape
The U.S. government is currently prioritizing a shift toward more robust IT governance and modernized cybersecurity across all cabinet-level departments. The Department of Labor's recent hiring move aligns with federal-wide initiatives to professionalize technology oversight as discussed at the 2026 FedCiv Summit.
These internal appointments aim to streamline digital services, which may eventually improve the efficiency of department-level programs and public-facing IT portals. The changes are part of a broader push to modernize how federal agencies handle business management and IT administration.
The takeaway
The appointment of new IT leadership reflects a strategic commitment to strengthening federal cybersecurity and governance. Readers should expect an increased focus on digital modernization projects across government services throughout the coming fiscal cycle.
What happens next
DOL CIO Mangala Kuppa will attend the 2026 FedCiv Summit on October 29 to discuss federal civilian IT priorities.
Further reading
For more information on personnel changes within federal agencies, visit the United States People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Executive Gov.
