About PSPC

Mike Hernon, Founder & Principal

Mike founded PSPC in 2015 to help governments at all levels leverage information technology and data to realize their strategic goals. We have worked in federal civilian, DoD, state, and local jurisdictions, as well as in international settings. Our focus is on strategic and mission-critical initiatives serving senior public sector officials including elected leadership, CIOs, Chief Technology Officers, and Chief Data Officers.

Mike is a noted expert in the strategic adoption of information technology, a reputation earned through over 20 years as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) and CIO advisor. As CIO for the City of Boston, he introduced some of the first e-government applications and created a public/private partnership (P3) that resulted in Boston becoming the first city in the US to provide networks and Internet connectivity to every public school, community center, and library. During his tenure, the city became internationally renowned for its use of technology in public safety, education, and economic development.

Mike’s consulting activities center on assisting public sector CIOs and senior managers on a variety of strategic IT issues in local, state, federal, and international jurisdictions. He has also addressed numerous international government groups on strategically adopting technology in their countries and has worked with non-profit and commercial clients on developing relevant public-sector strategies and programs.

A key focus area in his work has been broadband and smart cities. He developed the Information Age Appalachia program defining the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) rural broadband approach; created P3s with universities and foundations to deliver wireless broadband into underserved communities; and continues to serve as an expert reviewer for ARC broadband grants. Mike was instrumental in introducing classified and unclassified wireless capabilities over commercial cellular networks and devices into the US Department of the Navy (DON) and Department of Defense (DoD). He also has deep experience in public safety and emergency management solutions and facilitated the creation and management of DoD’s Public Safety Communications Working Group as well as developing strategy, policy, and programs for the DoD CIO and the DON CIO addressing 911, Next Generation 911, and FirstNet. Currently he leads smart city project teams in Ho CHi Minh City, Vietnam; Davao City, Philippines; and in the southeast US.

Among his accolades Mike was named one of the industry’s “Super CIOs” by ComputerWorld magazine – the only public sector CIO so honored; won Public Technology Inc.’s first web award for local government; won a Hammer Award for helping to re-invent the Veteran’s Health Benefits Administration through a P3, and received the Meritorious Public Service Award from the Department of the Navy. He has also served as CIO magazine’s “Ask the Expert” on e-government.

PSPC’s additional resources include experts with signifcant local, state, and federal government expertise, as well as data analysts, researchers and technical writers.

Publications