Becoming a Public CIO

[Samuelrz]

Hey everyone,

I just found this forum and am loving it. I'm posting this here as you guys have the most knowledge of the public sector. My question is, my long term goal is to become a Public CIO. I have been working in County Government as a Programmer/Analyst III for 8 years. I am up for an IS Manager opening which is one step below the CIO. I live in a region where only 11% of the population holds a degree and I don't plan on moving far from here either. So in that regard I have a leg up on the competition. I currently have an MS in Information Systems and wonder which of the following will help be accomplish my goal.

1) Earn an MPA, MPPA, or MPP

2) Earn an MBA

3) Do nothing. The MSIS is sufficient

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[zourah]

First, a disclaimer: I have only a very narrow view from which to speak (1.5 years all in the same org, from the perspective of a lowly assistant who gets to sit in on the candidate search/job interview process as a note-taker).

Next: what I've seen. Your degree is probably fine on its own, but if you feel the need to return to school, an MBA or MPA is probably your best bet. Education is one of those check-boxes quickly marked off and moved past, however. The two things they're sure to look for that you don't get much experience with at lower levels are teamwork/leadership and strategic vision. If you can build competencies in those areas without a degree, so much the better. If you can strengthen them with a return to school, great. If you get another master's and don't some out any more able to help build information services to suit the current (and future!) needs of your agency/gov't and hire/manage competent underlings who can see and carry out those plans, then the degree is just a piece of paper.

Are there business planning committees or reviews you can take part in? Will your current boss designate additional responsibility to help you better understand the day-to-day work at the next level of management? Look for growth opportunities where you are - and then come back here for moral support if you decide an academic environment is a better place to pick up some of these skills instead.