Former Brownsville CIO Jorge Cardenas Takes Deputy CIO Role in Austin
Jorge Cardenas, Brownsville’s inaugural CIO, has moved to Austin as deputy chief information officer. During more than four years in Brownsville, he led technology modernization, broadband expansion, cybersecurity, and smart city efforts, including installing over 100 miles of fiber. He was also recognized among Government Technology’s 2026 Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers.
Jorge Cardenas, who served as Brownsville’s first chief information officer, has moved to Austin as deputy CIO. He shared the career change on LinkedIn on Monday, saying he intends to start by getting to know colleagues, listening, learning and looking for ways to contribute.
In Brownsville, Cardenas spent over four years guiding municipal technology efforts. The city added more than 100 miles of fiber, broadened broadband access, and adopted AI, private 5G and other emerging tools. His background includes roles at OSC Edge, Spellman High Voltage Electronics and NES Associates, plus eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He holds an MBA and a master’s in sports and health sciences.
Cardenas’s arrival in Austin may shape how the city approaches digital services, cybersecurity and broadband-related projects, potentially affecting residents who rely on municipal technology and staff who implement it. Brownsville could feel the loss of an inaugural CIO who led modernization and fiber expansion, though its prior work may continue. The move also highlights how local governments compete for experienced technology leaders, which could influence the pace and priorities of public-sector innovation.