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Jason M. Biggers, Director of Technology, Hillsborough CountyJason is a seasoned IT executive with a strong record of leading complex technology initiatives across local government. Known for his strategic planning, budget management and collaborative leadership, he has delivered transformative projects like NG911 upgrades, enterprise wireless networks and integrated library systems. His hands-on approach and deep infrastructure knowledge have enabled him to modernize critical services while managing large-scale public sector budgets. With a focus on consensus-building and effective communication, Jason excels at aligning technology with organizational goals, fostering innovation and driving results. His balanced expertise in operations, vendor relations and staff development positions him as a trusted leader in public technology.
Empowering Progress through Autonomy and Listening First
Being given the privilege to work independently with our various customers (Departments) within Hillsborough County is the most pivotal experience shaping my career and current position today. Independence does not mean I singularly brought every facet of a project to completion. Quite the opposite, but what it did afford me was the ability to guide multiple teams to complete technology projects needed by the department. In a couple of cases, some of these projects had stagnated for months, if not years. Departments like Library Services, Parks and Recreation, Fire Rescue and the County’s Medical Examiner all benefited from improved access to enterprise technology solutions via iterations of enhancements to core business applications and systems. The autonomy allowed me to speak as the customer and show our internal technology teams’ different ways to achieve success, i.e., outside-the-box thinking. My leadership philosophy is chiefly, “listen more and speak less.”
Securing the County While Staying Agile and Aligned
Like any local government, our cybersecurity strategy protects citizens’ information while encouraging departments, boards, agencies and councils to optimize their business missions and grow their customer base. We collaborate with all these entities comprising the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and endeavor to collaborate with the separate Constitutionals to ensure a county-first approach with state and federal regulations. All of this is coordinated via our Cybersecurity Division, one of six departments and divisions that comprise the Information and Innovation Office (IIO) of the Hillsborough County BoCC.
While I would love to expound, in the interests of the County and my teams, we cannot disclose specific tools we use to detect, defend and/or monitor. We constantly evolve our technology solutions across all aspects of our technology stacks to ensure optimal cost-benefit. This allows us to realize the best opportunities to spend taxpayer money while achieving the most significant net benefit.
We constantly review the evolving technology landscape and test solutions to find an optimal fit for our environment, customers and citizens. Staying ahead of threats is a constant and has been so since the 90s, in my honest opinion. The tools available in the marketplace and those designed by internal staff have come a long way in their creative approach and predictive capabilities. I am genuinely impressed by the tools we have implemented and the staff charged with that implementation and ongoing “care and feeding.” My department supports the Cybersecurity Division, but it is a collaboration of people and technologies that have allowed us to develop mature processes that envelop the modern technologies and strategies of the large and mid-size enterprise marketplace. Without the freedom and flexibility to act proactively, a cornerstone in Hillsborough County, I do not want to think of what stagnation may look like in such a diverse and growing county. Our best strategy as we move forward is having innovative leaders that encourage independence.
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