Blab Tech
Newport News Names First CIO to Bolster Cybersecurity, Upskilling and AI Initiatives
On January 22, 2026, the city of Newport News, Virginia, announced a milestone in its digital strategy: the appointment of Hassan Janjua as its inaugural chief information officer. A seasoned professional with CISSP, AIGP, PMP, and ITIL certifications, Janjua will steer the city’s enterprise systems, cybersecurity posture, data governance, and overall technology vision.
Janjua stepped into the role in February, taking over an IT department that had been led by a director. He has framed the position as a chance to shape the organization’s trajectory and make it “future‑ready.” His agenda centers on three pillars—fortifying cybersecurity, cultivating a skilled workforce, and testing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Cybersecurity tops the list. When Janjua assumed office, city leaders earmarked $6 million for defensive upgrades, reflecting a growing alarm over ransomware attacks that increasingly target local governments. Industry data from 2024 show that the average cost of recovering from such an incident was $2.83 million. Newport News’ coastal setting also drives a focus on disaster‑resilience, with officials evaluating alternate recovery sites and building redundancy for mission‑critical systems.
Upskilling the workforce is the second cornerstone. Janjua, who authored a book on workforce development after managing Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department, has leveraged the city’s purchase of Udemy access to broaden skill‑building opportunities. He is drafting individualized development plans for supervisors and has requested a 50 percent boost to the next fiscal year’s training budget to sustain these initiatives.
With a population of 183,230—small compared to Los Angeles County’s 9.69 million—Janjua notes that local governments of all sizes confront similar challenges. He is creating a framework that enables him and other municipal IT leaders to share lessons on common issues like upskilling.
Regional collaboration is also a priority. As part of the Hampton Roads community, Janjua and his peers meet quarterly through the 757CIO group to discuss technology strategies. His participation in this forum facilitates the exchange of best practices across the region.
Janjua’s AI strategy revolves around an “AI factory,” a controlled environment where new tools can be tested safely in a “playground” setting. The objective is to experiment, learn, and “fail securely” before scaling solutions. Parallel to this, the city is developing an AI assessment tool that will evaluate prospective projects on return on investment, data security, and intended outcomes, aiming to prevent post‑deployment failures.
Drawing on his experience in Los Angeles County, Janjua says his background enabled him to hit the ground running, allowing him to lay foundational work early on. “So now, I’m building the foundational work, but I know eventually how the house is going to look,” he remarked.
The city’s investment in cybersecurity, workforce development, and AI reflects a broader trend among state and local governments to modernize infrastructure and safeguard essential services. While no additional funding or specific project timelines have been announced beyond the initial allocations, the next steps are expected to involve rolling out the AI assessment tool, expanding the AI factory, and finalizing the increased training budget. Progress will be tracked through quarterly regional CIO meetings and internal performance metrics.
Hassan Janjua’s appointment marks a significant turning point for Newport News, positioning the municipality to confront evolving cyber threats, nurture a skilled workforce, and responsibly explore AI in a coastal environment.
Janjua stepped into the role in February, taking over an IT department that had been led by a director. He has framed the position as a chance to shape the organization’s trajectory and make it “future‑ready.” His agenda centers on three pillars—fortifying cybersecurity, cultivating a skilled workforce, and testing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Cybersecurity tops the list. When Janjua assumed office, city leaders earmarked $6 million for defensive upgrades, reflecting a growing alarm over ransomware attacks that increasingly target local governments. Industry data from 2024 show that the average cost of recovering from such an incident was $2.83 million. Newport News’ coastal setting also drives a focus on disaster‑resilience, with officials evaluating alternate recovery sites and building redundancy for mission‑critical systems.
Upskilling the workforce is the second cornerstone. Janjua, who authored a book on workforce development after managing Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department, has leveraged the city’s purchase of Udemy access to broaden skill‑building opportunities. He is drafting individualized development plans for supervisors and has requested a 50 percent boost to the next fiscal year’s training budget to sustain these initiatives.
With a population of 183,230—small compared to Los Angeles County’s 9.69 million—Janjua notes that local governments of all sizes confront similar challenges. He is creating a framework that enables him and other municipal IT leaders to share lessons on common issues like upskilling.
Regional collaboration is also a priority. As part of the Hampton Roads community, Janjua and his peers meet quarterly through the 757CIO group to discuss technology strategies. His participation in this forum facilitates the exchange of best practices across the region.
Janjua’s AI strategy revolves around an “AI factory,” a controlled environment where new tools can be tested safely in a “playground” setting. The objective is to experiment, learn, and “fail securely” before scaling solutions. Parallel to this, the city is developing an AI assessment tool that will evaluate prospective projects on return on investment, data security, and intended outcomes, aiming to prevent post‑deployment failures.
Drawing on his experience in Los Angeles County, Janjua says his background enabled him to hit the ground running, allowing him to lay foundational work early on. “So now, I’m building the foundational work, but I know eventually how the house is going to look,” he remarked.
The city’s investment in cybersecurity, workforce development, and AI reflects a broader trend among state and local governments to modernize infrastructure and safeguard essential services. While no additional funding or specific project timelines have been announced beyond the initial allocations, the next steps are expected to involve rolling out the AI assessment tool, expanding the AI factory, and finalizing the increased training budget. Progress will be tracked through quarterly regional CIO meetings and internal performance metrics.
Hassan Janjua’s appointment marks a significant turning point for Newport News, positioning the municipality to confront evolving cyber threats, nurture a skilled workforce, and responsibly explore AI in a coastal environment.
