Richard Semple Named WilCo Chief Information Officer

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Richard Semple has been named the new chief information officer for Williamson County, officials said on Thursday.

Semple is taking the helm of the Technology Services Department from Jay Shade, who is retiring after serving for more than 20 years as the county’s senior director of technology services, officials explained in an advisory.

According to a county-provided bio, Semple has served Williamson County for 15 years. He started in 2005 as the GIS and 9-1-1 addressing director. He then was promoted to the new position of public safety technology director where he managed the County’s public safety software and hardware systems for law enforcement, fire, and EMS.

Most recently, Semple has been the IT operations director, and was responsible for supervising staff, managing procurement of technology expenditures and setting standards within the department as well as the county as a whole, according to the advisory

“During the pandemic, as the county adapted to conducting courts, meetings and business virtually, Richard was intricately involved in every step of those processes," Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said in a prepared statement. "We have complete trust in his abilities to continue implementing innovative technology solutions to make government more efficient and better serve our residents."

Semple earned a master’s degree in public administration from St. Francis eUniversity as well as a master’s certificate in IS/IT project management from Villanova University. He serves on the Dell Technologies State and Local Government Advisory Board and the Capital Area Emergency Communications District Strategic Advisory Committee.

“I have seen the County through a time of tremendous growth and advancements in technology,” Semple said in a prepared statement. “I am honored that the Commissioners Court has put their faith in me to lead the County through even more change as technology advances at a rapid pace.”