Colorado selects tech entrepreneur as new digital service director

The Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology on Monday announced that Sarah Tuneberg, a tech entrepreneur and former state lead during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been selected as the new director of the Colorado Digital Service.

The state’s digital service office was created within OIT in 2019, and since its inception has launched several initiatives to make it easier for Coloradans to access and engage with government services. In the director role, Tuneberg will lead OIT teams and state agencies through the execution of the Colorado digital government strategic plan, a roadmap that includes several five-year targets for technology access such as 99% broadband access by 2027 and a digital identity platform.

Tuneberg has built three startups, and she’s worked for the state — in March 2020, Gov. Jared Polis hired her as director of Colorado’s COVID Innovation Response Team and later expanded the job to include a senior adviser role responsible for statewide COVID-19 testing, containment and technology.

As the state’s COVID-19 lead, Tuneberg was credited with leading a team of 450 staff, expanding daily testing to more than 50,000, building a contact tracing program that the state claims saved taxpayers $30 million and helping to purchase new technologies.

Tuneberg will report jointly to Governor’s Office Director of Operations and Cabinet Affairs Jesse Marks, as well as David Edinger, the statewide chief information officer and executive director of the Governor’s Office of Information Technology.

“I’m honored to be returning to the state and thrilled to be joining the exceptional Colorado Digital Service team,” Tuneberg said. “I look forward to working in partnership with the Governor’s Office, OIT colleagues, agency partners, and the larger civic technology community to deliver user-centric digital services that make the lives of all Coloradans easier.”