Joe Pregler named Dubuque’s new CIO

Joe Pregler has been appointed as the City of Dubuque’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO), following a national search.

Pregler, who has been with the city’s IT department since 2001, previously served as Chief Information Technology Security Officer and stepped in as interim CIO earlier this year after the retirement of long-time CIO, Chris Kohlmann.

Dubuque, a historic river city located on the Mississippi River in northeastern Iowa, is recognised for its strong community engagement and innovative approach to public services. Pregler is eager to build on this foundation as he assumes his new role.

“My immediate priorities as Dubuque’s new CIO are to get my old position of CISO hired as soon as I can,” Pregler told Cities Today. “I believe that the cybersecurity role in our organisation is incredibly important and continuity is crucial to keep the momentum going that I have built.”

Pregler also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the city’s operations.

“The growth and use of AI in many aspects of our organisation is also a priority that needs to be carefully addressed with the appropriate corresponding policies to protect the City of Dubuque,” he explained.

The city recently completed a data governance policy with input from various departments and staff. Pregler intends to build on this foundation by integrating it with the city’s AI policy.

“Dubuque already is at the forefront of open data,” he noted, referring to platforms such as Dollars and Cents Open Budget and Open Expenses, which allow citizens to explore the city’s budget and expenditures in detail.

Looking ahead, Pregler believes emerging technologies will play an increasingly significant role in city services.

“AI is definitely at the top of that list, and almost every software provider we work with is starting to incorporate it in some way. I believe it will make our applications more intelligent and more efficient, along with doing the same for city staff.”

Acknowledging Dubuque’s history of public-private technology collaborations, including with IBM and Nvidia, Pregler expressed openness to continuing this approach.

“Although the two sectors are historically separate, we are always open to those opportunities for collaborations in the future,” he said, though he noted it remains difficult to predict exactly what form those partnerships might take.

Van Milligen, City Manager, praised Pregler’s appointment, stating: “Joe Pregler brings with him to this position a wealth of experience and knowledge and a history of organisational leadership and innovation most recently specialising in cybersecurity keeping our complex systems safe. Joe is the leader we need in this rapidly changing environment.”

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