On February 17, Mayor Lester Miller recommended and the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved Tekquell Watson’s appointment as the consolidated government’s new Chief Information Officer.
 
“Technology is at the core of all we are doing to create a more accessible and transparent government in order to better serve our community,” says Mayor Lester Miller. "We cast a wide net across the United States and world thanks to the Knight Foundation, and Ms. Watson stood far ahead of everyone else. We know she'll do a fabulous job here in Macon-Bibb County."

“Technology is the key to how organizations operate, protect critical assets, and deliver meaningful results, and through it, we can advance innovation that delivers a measurable community-wide impact,” says Ms. Watson. “I believe strong strategic leadership in this space will enhance security, improve efficiency, and position the count for sustainable, forward-looking growth.”

“We are always looking for ways to operate more efficiently and with better tools, and we see Ms. Watson as having the knowledge and experience in moving our entire team and government forward,” says County Manager Dr. Keith Moffett. “We truly want to become a ‘Smart City’ and integrate technology into every facet of operations to make them work better for the people and neighborhoods we serve.”

As the CIO, Watson will lead the Information Technology Department, playing a critical role in shaping a modern, secure, and responsive technology environment that supports both internal operations and public-facing services. This also includes a growing team of 35 people, oversight of IT governance, system security, application support, project management, infrastructure operations, communications systems, digital innovation initiatives, and technology operations.
 
Support from Knight Foundation helped Macon-Bibb County attract significant interest in the role, resulting in a highly qualified candidate pool. The CIO will play a pivotal role in accelerating smart city initiatives, enhancing cybersecurity and expanding equitable access to digital services for Macon-Bibb residents.
 
“We are excited to welcome Ms. Watson to Team Macon-Bibb, and Knight is proud to have been a partner to establish this important role to better serve our people,” said Lynn Murphey, Knight Foundation’s Macon Director. “The strong nationwide candidate pool reflects the growing interest we’re seeing in our community, with people excited about the opportunity to live and work in Macon."
 
Watson is a seasoned information technology executive and U.S. Air Force Veteran with more than 25 years of combined military and federal service, including senior technical and leadership roles. Her career reflects a customer-focused approach to modernizing enterprise systems, digital services, and cybersecurity strategy within complex, mission-critical environments. 
 
In her role as Chief Information Officer at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Watson is responsible for transforming technology ecosystems, strengthening cybersecurity resilience, and ensuring responsible technology stewardship in support of public-facing services. Her leadership has driven measurable improvements in operational efficiency, service reliability, and continuity of operations—particularly during periods of organizational transition and constrained resources.
 
Prior to the Institute, she served as Chief of Special Missions Division, Chief of Legacy Systems Branch, and Helpdesk Section Chief at Robins Air Force Base. She earned her Master of Science in Information Technology from Grantham University and her Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology from Georgia College and State University 
 
As a member of the United States Air Force, she earned the Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Civilian Special Service Act Award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award.
 
Grounded in military and public-sector service, Watson remains committed to advancing secure, resilient, and accessible technology solutions in support of county and community priorities.