Arkansas
Arkansas’ New Information Services Director Is State Veteran
Arkansas has named a new leader for its state Division of Information Services (DIS), making their relationship official after roughly one year.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has named Jay Harton, a veteran of state service, as the division’s director, the Department of Transformation and Shared Services announced Friday. Harton stepped in as interim director in February 2024, and previously spent nine years as DIS’ chief operating officer (COO).
“Jay’s leadership has been essential in implementing Arkansas Forward and ensuring Arkansans are safe as modern technology advances, and I look forward to his continued leadership as the head of the Division of Information Systems,” Sanders said in a statement.
Harton replaces Jonathan Askins, who served as DIS director from June 2021 to February 2024, according to LinkedIn. His title then was chief technology officer (CTO); according to state code, the director also serves as CTO.
The division is part of Arkansas’ Department of Transformation and Shared Services, which was created in 2019 to consolidate more than 42 state agencies into 15 departments. DIS is responsible for IT products and solutions — alongside cybersecurity — for state agencies, public schools, cities, counties and public safety organizations. Arkansas Forward, which the governor referenced, is the state’s plan to improve IT administration across the state, improve customer experience, reduce cyber risk, and trim up to $130 million in annual costs.
“I am honored to assume the role of director for DIS,” Harton said in a statement. “I am grateful to Gov. Sanders for this opportunity to continue serving the great state of Arkansas alongside the dedicated professionals at DIS.”
As COO, Harton managed the division’s daily operations and strategic initiatives. As division director of Enterprise Solutions starting in April 2013, he oversaw strategic technology, improvements and operational enhancements; as a manager, he oversaw Windows systems support. He has around 29 years in Arkansas state government service.
Rex Nelson
Rex Nelson has been senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017, and he has a biweekly podcast called “Southern Fried.”
After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981, he was a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat for a year before becoming editor of Arkadelphia’s Daily Siftings Herald. He was the youngest editor of a daily in Arkansas at age 23. Rex was then news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985.
He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985. From 1986-1989, he was its Washington correspondent. He left to be Jackson T. Stephens’ consultant.
Rex became the Democrat-Gazette’s first political editor in 1992, but left in 1996 to join then-Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office. He also served from 2005-09 in the administration of President George W. Bush.
From 2009-2018, he worked stints at the Communications Group, Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities, and Simmons First National Corp.
Dylan Sherman
Dylan Sherman is a business reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He is based in Northwest Arkansas and focuses on Tyson Foods Inc. and the transportation industry. A graduate of the University of Missouri, he has been with the newspaper since 2023.
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