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Executive Leadership

Amaya Capellán

Chief Information Officer

Amaya Capellán was named the Commonwealth’s Chief Information Officer in July 2023. In this role, she has overall responsibility for the management and operation of IT services for all executive agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction.

Amaya has nearly 20 years of professional experience in technology consulting, startups, and customer experience. She previously worked for Comcast, where she was instrumental as a leader of digital transformation for its customers. As Vice President of Product Management in the Technology, Product, and Experience (TPX) unit, Amaya led app strategy, identity management, and servicing and account experience for the Xfinity app, which is available to 30 million customers. In this role, she oversaw the launch of the app, which combines six apps into one unified platform, a transformation which grew active users from 1 million to 8 million per month. In other roles, Amaya helped launch Xfinity Mobile, a wireless service, and then led the strategy, pilot, and initial launch of Comcast Business Mobile, tailoring the service and offering for small, mid-size, and enterprise customers.

Amaya has also held product leadership and strategy positions at PeopleLinx (a venture-backed business-to-business sales startup), Booz & Company's Technology and Communications practice, FCB Global (an ad agency), and an eLearning startup in Madrid, Spain. In these roles, she helped to lead the companies through key moments of transition by working collaboratively to define products, strategies, and processes that leveraged technology to drive outcomes.

Amaya holds a Bachelor of Economics from Princeton University, an MBA from Wharton and a Master’s in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. She resides in South Philly with her wife, Alison and their 8-year-old son, Santiago.

Bry Pardoe

Bryanna Pardoe, CODE PA Executive Director

CODE PA Executive Director

Bry Pardoe was appointed Executive Director of the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA) in May 2023.

Under Bry’s leadership, CODE PA will work closely with the Office of Administration and the Governor’s Office infuse new energy and resources into ongoing customer service transformation efforts and lead high-priority projects to improve digital experiences for Pennsylvanians.

Bry served as the Director of Web and Digital Experience at Main Line Health since 2021, where she focused on efforts to improve website accessibility and make it easier to find and schedule an appointment with a provider, and selected and implemented an APl-driven SMS texting solution for appointment reminders that drove down no-shows across the enterprise by 15% in the first month of implementation. Prior to this, Bry worked for Geisinger as a Digital Marketing Strategist and was promoted to Digital Product Manager and later Director of Digital Engagement. At Geisinger, Bry led the enterprise selection and implementation of CRM and texting solutions, while building out a fully insourced digital marketing team. Bry started her digital experience career at Lycoming Engines in 2015, where she led a complete rebranding of the company’s logo, website, and sales collateral.

James Sipe

Chief Information Security Officer

James Sipe became the Commonwealth’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in November 2023. He previously worked for Amazon Web Services, where he led an international team providing IT security and technical guidance to the company’s 25 largest global customers.

As CISO, James is responsible for the enterprise-wide management of the Commonwealth's cybersecurity programs, including governance, auditing, monitoring and compliance, risk management, vulnerability and threat management, incident management, forensic investigations, security awareness outreach and education, identity and access management, and agency assistance.

James has over two decades of cybersecurity experience and leadership, having advised and worked for companies across diverse industries. Prior to Amazon, James was an IT security executive for MessageBird, a digital communications and marketing company with over 29,000 customers worldwide, including Google, Facebook, and Uber. He has also led cybersecurity and compliance for companies in hospitality and entertainment, accounting, management consulting, media and advertising, weather and environmental monitoring, modular space and storage, building technology, and engineered materials.

James is a certified information systems auditor (CISA). He earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) in English Language and Literature/Letters from Millersville University.

Ellen Strom

Ellen Strom, Chief Accessibility Officer

Chief Accessibility Officer

Ellen Strom was named Chief Accessibility Officer for the commonwealth in January 2020.

In this role, Ellen is focused on ensuring that the state’s digital content is accessible to its citizens and employees alike. She works with state agencies to define best practices, design and implement strategies to educate and influence organizational culture, improve procurement processes and organize communities of practice.

Ellen has been in the digital customer experience field for more than 15 years. Prior to joining the commonwealth, she concentrated on designing and implementing a digital program to improve the web and mobile banking experiences for customers with disabilities. She is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC).

Ellen earned a master’s degree in business administration from the American University in Washington, DC and a bachelor’s degree in French and German from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She spent two of her undergraduate years in study abroad programs at the Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier, France and Phillips Universität in Marburg, Germany.

David Partsch

Chief Data Officer

David Partsch was named Chief Data Officer for the commonwealth in March 2020. David is the first person to hold this newly created position and will be responsible for developing and executing data priorities, strategic plans, direct data investments, procurements, and policy for the commonwealth.

David has 25 years’ experience in the IT industry, most recently as the chief information officer and chief information security officer at InXite Health Systems, a healthcare technology company. He also served at the West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN), where he was responsible for all aspects of information technology for the state-wide clinical health information exchange, as well as the Geisinger Health System and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

David is an active member of the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), College of Health Information Management Executives (CHIME), American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Association for Information and Imaging Management (AIIM), Association for Records Management Administrators (ARMA), and Information Systems Security Association (ISSA).

David has served as a board member of several organizations such as Marshall University’s Master of Healthcare Informatics and University of South Florida’s Cybersecurity for Executives academic programs.

David earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA and a bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Business Analysis from Penn State University.

Robyne Lyons

Chief Information Officer, Integrated Enterprise System Office

Robyne Lyons was named Chief Information Officer of the Integrated Enterprise System Office (IESO) in October 2023. She oversees the Commonwealth’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system supporting human resources, payroll, travel, finance, funds management, budget planning, procurement, plant maintenance, flexible real estate, sales and distribution, analytics, and reporting.

Robyne has over three decades of information technology experience working as a consultant and for the Commonwealth. Focusing on IT initiatives of application deployments, upgrades, migrations, building organizations, providing vision, guiding enterprise level initiatives, and deploying new solutions. She has been a key member of the IESO team for nearly two decades and held various roles including SAP Deployment Manager, SAP Program Manager, and Director of the Bureau of Technical Operations and Service Delivery. As bureau director, Robyne focused on innovations, analytics, change and risk management, strategy, cultural awareness and team building, relationship development, operations, IT investment and portfolio management. Under her leadership, the bureau recently implemented a data lake, Business Technology Platform (BTP), and SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) among its many initiatives. Robyne and her team have earned notable recognitions for their accomplishments, including the SAP America’s Innovation Award for 2020 and the Pennsylvania Excellence in Technology in 2019.

Sarah Shaffer

Chief Information Officer, General Government Delivery Center

Sarah Shaffer was named Acting Chief Information Officer for the General Government Delivery Center in January 2024.

In this role, Sarah is responsible for leading the development and execution of the delivery center’s IT strategic plan in support of the Governor’s Office, Lt. Governor’s Office, Office of Administration, Office of Budget, Office of General Counsel, Office of State Inspector General, Department of Education, Department of General Services, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and State Civil Service Commission.

Prior to her current role, Sarah served as the General Government Delivery Center Business & Service Management Director for six years, overseeing business relationship management, portfolio and project management, procurement, and business analysis functions. Sarah’s previous experience includes many years working across several state agencies as both a state employee and consultant in various project management, business analysis, organizational change management, learning development, marketing, and procurement roles.

Her favorite parts of her job are utilizing IT as a change agent for business transformation, building teams and community, and enabling her customers’ success.

Sarah earned a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management from Pennsylvania College of Technology, has participated in the Commonwealth Leadership Development Program and the Harrisburg University IT Executives Program and holds the Business Relationship Manager Professional (BRMP) certification.

Tom Diecidue

Chief Information Officer, Conservation and Environment Delivery Center

Tom Diecidue was appointed as the Chief Information Officer for the Conservation and Environment Delivery Center on June 2019.

In this role, Tom is responsible for leading the development and execution of the delivery center’s IT strategic plan in support of the Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, Agriculture, Environmental Hearing Board and Milk Marketing Board.

Tom brings over 30 years of IT experience. During his career, Tom has developed experience in areas including strategic planning, IT development methodologies, application architecture and development, systems integration, vendor management and business relationship management.

Most recently, Tom served as the Vice President of Enterprise Systems at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). In this role, Tom was responsible for contact center, enterprise content management, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and governance, risk and compliance (GRC) technologies. Tom was responsible for the modernization and achieving significant return on investment for contact center operations. Tom was also responsible for significant organizational change along with implementing Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) methodologies.

Tom holds a bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University.

Donald Kirschman

Chief Information Officer, Infrastructure and Economic Development Delivery Center

Donald Kirschman was named Chief Information Officer for the Infrastructure and Economic Development Delivery Center in January 2024.

In this role, Donald is responsible for leading the development and execution of the delivery center’s IT strategic plan in support of the Department of Transportation, Department of Community and Economic Development and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Donald has over 30 years of experience in information technology. Most recently, he served as the director of solutions management for the Infrastructure and Economic Development Delivery Center directing the activities of more than 300 IT professionals in the development, maintenance and support of 300+ applications

Donald earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from PennWest Edinboro.

Dave Naisby

Chief Information Officer, Employment, Banking and Revenue Delivery Center

Dave Naisby was appointed as the Chief Information Officer for the Employment, Banking, and Revenue Delivery Center on July 1, 2017.

Dave has over 17 years of experience in the information technology field, having served in varying executive positions, most notably as the Chief Information Officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and as the Executive Director of the Commonwealth’s Justice Network (JNET).

Dave has a strong background in service delivery, IT governance, and system integration. He has held the responsibilities for evaluating, planning, and directing IT operations, legacy and distributed systems platforms, application/software development, telecommunications, and IT security in large scale environments.

Dave earned a bachelor’s degree from York College of Pennsylvania and is a 2014 Graduate of Harrisburg University’s Certified Government Chief Information Officer program.

Sandy Patterson

Chief Information Officer, Health and Human Services Delivery Center

Sandy Patterson is the Chief Information Officer for the Health and Human Services Delivery Center serving the Departments of Human Services, Health, Aging, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Military and Veteran Affairs.

In this capacity, her organization IT systems associated with programs for the elderly, public health, veteran homes, the PA National Guard, child support, and child welfare, as well as eligibility for benefit programs including food stamps, medical assistance, low income heating assistance, cash assistance, childhood and early development programs, and home and community based programs for the elderly and intellectually challenged citizens.

Sandy has over 32 years of experience in Information Technology. Since joining the commonwealth in 2005, she has performed oversight of the Medicaid Management Information System in the Office of Medical Assistance program, gaining national recognition for the implementation of the Medical Assistance Provider Incentive Repository utilized in 13 states. As the CIO for the Departments of Human Services, Aging and Insurance, she was responsible for all IT systems and services supporting the three agencies.

Sandy is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in Health Planning and Administration. She has certificates in Project Management from the Pennsylvania State University, Certified Government Chief Information Officer program at Harrisburg University, ITILv3 foundation and ITIL Service Strategy. She is also a graduate of the Commonwealth Leadership Development Institute.

Dustin Rhoads

Chief Information Officer, Public Safety Delivery Center

Dustin Rhoads was named Public Safety’s Chief Information Officer June 2017.

Prior to his current role, Dustin served as the CIO of the Department of Corrections. As CIO, Dustin directed the strategy, management and development of the department, ensuring that organizational objectives surpassed the business and technology needs of the commonwealth's Corrections agency. As the CIO, he was involved in driving the analysis and re-engineering of the existing business processes along with identifying new technologies and services.

Prior to his CIO roles, Dustin was named Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) in November 2013. JNET is an integrated portal that provides a common online environment where authorized users access public safety and criminal justice information from various contributing municipal, county, state, and federal agencies. He previously served as Business Manager at JNET, a position he held since 2007.

Prior to joining JNET, Dustin worked as a Community Justice Planning Specialist for the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing. In this role, Dustin played a primary part in identifying key stakeholders throughout all 67 counties, assessing practices of local justice systems, and providing recommendations for policy as well as innovative methods and programming to improve justice systems and services.

Dustin holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Shippensburg University.