Jon Eichten Named Minnesota Chief Information Officer
Eichten transitioned from interim to permanent status in September 2026.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in People
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Jon Eichten was appointed as the permanent Chief Information Officer of Minnesota in September 2026. He previously served in the interim role beginning in March 2026 following the resignation of his predecessor.
Why it matters
Eichten brings long-term state agency experience to the role as the department manages critical legacy system upgrades. His appointment provides leadership continuity for state technology operations that serve various government departments.
The agency currently faces the modernization of 30 million lines of COBOL code. Eichten held the position of deputy commissioner for 6.5 years prior to his recent promotion.
The players
Jon Eichten
He is the permanent Chief Information Officer of Minnesota and previously served as the agency's deputy commissioner.
Tarek Tomes
He is the former Chief Information Officer of Minnesota who preceded Eichten in the role.
The details
Appointed to lead the state's technology initiatives, Eichten has a career background that includes working in the Minnesota state senate. His leadership follows the tenure of former Chief Information Officer Tarek Tomes.
Timeline
The state IT consolidation law was passed in 2011.
Eichten was hired at Minnesota IT in 2012.
Eichten became interim Chief Information Officer in March 2026.
Eichten was appointed as permanent Chief Information Officer in September 2026.
Market Landscape
The 2011 Minnesota IT consolidation law established the centralized agency framework that Eichten now leads. His appointment reflects the ongoing maturation of the agency structure mandated by that legislation.
Residents may see changes in how state digital services are delivered as the agency evolves its development roles. These administrative shifts could eventually lead to modernized interfaces for government online portals.
The takeaway
The transition highlights the importance of institutional knowledge when managing large-scale legacy infrastructure. Leaders must balance maintaining stable state operations with the need to evolve staff roles for future technology requirements.
Further reading
For more on state leadership transitions, visit Minnesota People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Government Technology.
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