The City of Brownsville’s Chief Information Officer, Jorge Cardenas, is a 2025 Service to the Citizen Award Winner in Category 4: Using Innovative Technologies to Deliver Simple, Seamless, and Secure Services.

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Jorge Cardenas has transformed city services through a series of forward-thinking technology initiatives aimed at improving daily life for residents. Leveraging ARPA funds, he led the construction of 100 miles of mid-mile fiber and partnered with an ISP for last-mile delivery, establishing the digital foundation for a private 5G network and AI-powered smart city solutions.

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One of his most innovative accomplishments is a GenAI-powered system that analyzes citizen complaints by urgency, sentiment, and geography. Visualized through an interactive 3D city map, the tool allows officials to quickly prioritize and respond to pressing issues. This system, currently a proof of concept, is poised to integrate across all customer touchpoints, calls, emails, and web portals, offering a 360-degree view of community concerns and improving response times through ServiceNow automation.

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Cardenas also established an innovation lab in the public library to foster civic tech engagement and inspire youth interest in IT careers. His work has improved citywide services like traffic management and public safety, while promoting transparency, accountability, and economic development.

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Under his leadership, Brownsville has emerged as a model for digital government, where smart infrastructure and citizen-centered innovation work hand-in-hand to deliver better outcomes for all.