Strategic Partnerships, Inc. salutes you, public sector officials: The Profiles in Power section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across America’s public sector landscape. This week’s Profile in Power is Bryce Carter, the chief information officer for the city of Arlington, Texas.
Your public career highlights and education.
I serve as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the city of Arlington, Texas, where I lead cybersecurity for all city services and help oversee our award-winning Information Technology Department. Previously, I served as CISO for the city of Bellingham, Washington, and as Agency Chief Information Officer (CIO) for county government.
My career started in my early teens as a startup leader, then grew into technology executive roles in the private sector. While I may look young, I bring about 20 years of senior leadership experience, including approximately 10 years in the public sector. I also hold a Master’s Degree in Information Technology and numerous industry certifications.
An example of some of the best advice you have ever received.
The best advice I’ve ever received was to lead in a way that outlives my tenure. A mentor once reminded me, “your real legacy is the confidence people gain because you believed in them.” That comment really changed everything. It helped me realize early in my career that the highest form of leadership is not authority, but rather the quiet transformation you leave behind in people who never saw their own potential until you did.
Something you wish more people knew about the division of government you serve.
Our department is far more hands-on and mission-driven than most realize. Staff spend their days solving real problems with real impact, supporting every corner of the city while defending systems that keep people safe. The work is complex and high-pressure, but our teams show up with focus, creativity, and a sense of public duty every single day.
Any current project or initiative that you are working on.
Although I cannot share too many details about some of our larger initiatives, I can say that we are actively preparing for the FIFA World Cup. Outside of that, one of our higher-visibility efforts this year was our citywide AI strategy, which was created in partnership with our Office of Strategic Initiatives, which we are circling back around to drive forward. In addition, our department’s Software Services team recently created Arlington’s first Enterprise Architecture Committee, which will help modernize, standardize, and make Arlington more efficient for decades to come. Of course, that’s just a few highlights. So much other great work is happening inside and outside our department.
One thing outside of government service people may not know about you.
Outside of government service, I spend much of my time leading groups of executives through nature. With a close friend of mine, we recently helped turn that passion for the outdoors and leadership into a public benefit group that helps leaders step away from the noise, recharge, connect, and give back to local communities. What started as a small idea has grown into one of the most rewarding parts of life outside of serving the Arlington community.
