Chief Information Officer Recognized with Leadership Award

City of Carrollton Chief Information Officer Chris Chiancone received the 2026 DallasCIO Corporate ORBIE Award last month for his leadership efforts as the City's head information technology expert.

This award recognizes exceptional leadership, innovation, and vision in the dynamic field of technology. Fellow IT professionals nominate those in senior leadership roles for the award, and nominees are judged through an independent peer-review process led by prior ORBIE recipients on leadership effectiveness, the business value created by technology innovation, and engagement in industry and community endeavors.

Following Chiancone's hire in 2019, the City shifted from outsourced to in-house IT support. The department has since rebuilt Carrollton's technology infrastructure while serving more than 27 City departments and divisions with diverse needs, including City Council meeting broadcasts, the Public Library's online catalog, water utility billing, and public safety technology. During his time as CIO, more than six large-scale applications for the entire organization have been replaced or modernized, and the network and firewall infrastructure have been upgraded.

"Most organizations patch around the edges. We made a different choice," Chiancone said. "We rebuilt the foundation - the networks, the infrastructures, the applications, the security posture - so the City could operate with the speed and resilience that residents and staff deserve. In receiving this award, I want to thank my family, Assistant City Manager Chrystal Davis for supporting an innovative approach, and most of all, the City's IT staff members. The time I've spent collaborating with this team represents the most valuable investment I have made."

Chiancone also oversaw the conversion of the City's data storage from physical to virtual servers, increasing digital capacity without the physical footprint of large, metal server machines. Virtual servers are more cost-effective and energy-efficient, and they enable organizations to recover more quickly in case of disaster. In addition to the digital servers, IT has integrated cloud services across departments and installed more than 90 miles of fiber optic cable, providing high-speed internet service throughout the City for faster, more efficient data transfer.

"Chris has built a strong culture of trust, innovation, and continuous improvement within the IT department," Chrystal Davis, Assistant City Manager, said. "His people-centered approach has significantly enhanced Carrollton's internal capabilities and positioned the organization to respond quickly and confidently in an ever-evolving digital landscape."

Cybersecurity represents another important aspect of Chiancone's leadership in IT. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), a globally recognized certification for those who develop and manage cybersecurity programs. Under his leadership, IT has implemented AI-driven intrusion detection and built the monitoring and response capabilities required for any organization.

DallasCIO is the preeminent peer leadership network of chief information officers (CIOs) in North Texas. As one of more than 50 chapters of the Inspire Leadership Network, DallasCIO is part of a national membership organization exclusively composed of C-suite leaders from public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit institutions.

To learn more about the department, visit Information Technology.