The City and County of Denver has appointed Suma Nallapati as its first Chief AI and Information Officer (CAIO), expanding her current responsibilities as Chief Information Officer to include oversight of the city’s AI strategy.

The announcement was made by Mayor Mike Johnston during Denver’s second annual AI Summit at the Denver Art Museum. The newly established role reflects the city’s commitment to advancing the ethical and inclusive use of AI to enhance public services and community engagement.

In her expanded position, Nallapati will lead efforts to integrate AI across city operations—from resident-facing tools and permit processing to emergency response and infrastructure initiatives. She will also coordinate AI projects across departments to ensure consistency, accountability, and transparency in implementation.

“AI is no longer just a tool — it’s a core capability for a more responsive, resilient, and resident-focused government,” said Nallapati. “I am honored to lead this next chapter as we responsibly scale AI to improve lives, close equity gaps, and deliver smarter public services for every Denverite.”

Nallapati brings more than two decades of experience in technology and executive leadership. Prior to joining the City and County of Denver, she served as Chief Digital Officer at Dish Network and as Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer for the State of Colorado.