StateScoop 50 Awards Recognizes Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology Leaders for Innovation and Technology Excellence

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) Secretary & State Chief Information Officer (CIO) Brandon Ragle and Health & Human Services Group Chief Information Officer (GCIO) Troy Horton were honored by StateScoop for their leadership and achievements in tech on Monday.

Ragle received the Golden Gov: State Executive of the Year award in recognition of his leadership in driving technology transformation across Illinois government. Through a focus on innovation, collaboration, and service delivery, he has helped advance strategic initiatives that improve how state government serves residents.

"I'm honored to be recognized by StateScoop alongside so many strong public sector tech leaders," said Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology Secretary & State CIO Brandon Ragle. "This recognition reflects the work we're doing across Illinois to modernize services and improve how residents interact with state government, and it wouldn't be possible without the great teams across DoIT and our agency partners."

Horton received a 2026 State Leadership Award in recognition of his efforts to modernize technology and drive innovation across Illinois' Health and Human Services portfolio. As GCIO, he leads technology strategy for programs supporting healthcare, child welfare, behavioral health, and public assistance, advancing modernization initiatives that strengthen enterprise operations, improve service delivery, and support better outcomes for millions of Illinois residents.

"I'm deeply honored to receive this recognition from StateScoop," said Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology Health & Human Services GCIO Troy Horton. "This award reflects the dedication and talent of the teams I am privileged to work with every day. True progress in public sector technology is a collective effort, and I'm grateful to be part of that work."

The StateScoop 50 Awards, now in their 13th year, annually honor the best and the brightest who make state government more efficient and effective. These awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of our peers and acknowledge their tireless efforts to make a positive impact in the government IT community and in public service.