Josiah Raiche, Vermont’s first chief data and AI officer, was awarded the State Innovator of the Year Award by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers at its annual conference in Denver.
The award recognizes state leaders who demonstrate creativity, effectiveness and measurable impact through technology initiatives that improve government services and citizen outcomes. Under Raiche’s guidance, the Agency of Digital Services has positioned Vermont as a national leader in responsible AI use. Key achievements include creating the Council on Artificial Intelligence, developing the state’s first AI Code of Ethics, launching a CJIS-compliant data lake, and Chat VT, a secure AI chatbot that serves over 300 state employees weekly.
"This award recognizes not only Josiah’s vision but also the dedication of the entire ADS team," said Denise Reilly-Hughes, secretary of ADS and Vermont’s chief information officer. "Together, we are proud to lead the way in responsible, citizen-centered innovation in government."