Jeff Ford was the first student at his high school to own a personal computer, an Apple IIe. Ironically, that early embrace of technology got him a failing grade on a research paper.
Ford
The crime? The teacher considered the use of spellcheckers and grammar checkers to be cheating. It was an inauspicious start for someone who would become one of the most respected IT experts in state government.
Ford began his IT career in customer support at WordPerfect Corp., eventually moving into software testing and development, despite having no formal computer science training. Along with his major in marketing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, he had a deep curiosity and a knack for solving problems.
In 1996, he launched a consulting company, Software Studios, and landed a contract with the Indiana General Assembly to build its first Windows-based bill drafting system and chamber automation system, LegiSoft. He quickly transitioned from working remotely to leading a team of 15 developers on-site in Indiana. The system they created was based on WordPerfect and, Ford notes with pride, “is still in use today. We haven’t been able to find anything that works better.”
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Ford left Indiana in 2000 to become chief technology officer of a consumer finance company in Kansas City. But three years later, Indiana called again. Ford returned, eventually taking a full-time position in 2003. Today, he holds three titles: chief technology officer, chief information security officer and chief privacy officer for the Indiana General Assembly.
Colleagues praise him for his ability to find solutions and to talk with teams in a way everyone can understand. “My background in sales and marketing has played well for me,” Ford says. “It helps me talk to technical and nontechnical teams in a common language.”
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Adam Brown met Ford when Brown interned at the Legislature. As director of the Office of Technology Services for the Indiana Legislative Services Agency, Brown now works closely with Ford. “He brings a fresh perspective to any technology problem,” Brown says. “He has a great architect’s mind and stays calm under pressure. I’ve rarely seen him upset."
Ford's leadership and long view have been critical in keeping Indiana’s legislative systems responsive and efficient. “The system Jeff built still outpaces many of the more expensive, advanced systems in the country, and he’s helped other states understand how to tackle similar challenges through NCSL and the National Association of Legislative Information Technology,” Brown says, referring to one of NCSL’s nine professional staff associations.
K.C. Norwalk, deputy director of the Legislature’s Office of Bill Drafting and Research, praises Ford’s ability to communicate complex ideas. “He’s a great person to talk to. He makes technical topics easy to understand. That’s a huge asset.”
Ford also brought entrepreneurial energy into the public sector. “My experience running four companies helped me bring a startup mentality into a government agency,” he says. That includes practical touches like stocking snack tables for his teams and providing the IT staff with the tools they need.
“He’s excellent at mentoring new staff,” Brown says. “He offers direction without just solving the problem for them.”
‘Solving Interesting Problems’
Ford says he’s always been drawn to public service. “It’s never been about money. It’s about giving back, doing something meaningful—and solving interesting problems.”
His forward-thinking approach has been embraced in Indiana. “I didn’t want to work somewhere stuck in outdated tech. I wanted to be on the cutting edge,” Ford says.
That mindset also led him to help states move from reactive to proactive technology planning, especially in cybersecurity. During his tenure as staff chair of the National Association of Legislative Information Technology, or NALIT, from 2017-21, he frequently shared Indiana’s approach at national conferences, including the NCSL Legislative Summit.
“Jeff has made significant contributions to democracy by modernizing legislative processes,” says Chris Minter Hemmerling, IT solutions manager at Indiana’s Legislative Services Agency. “He continues to lead in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, shaping the future of legislative tech.”
Jonathan Harris, deputy director and CIO of the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, says Ford influenced his own career path. “I first met Jeff early in my legislative technology career during a professional development seminar hosted by Indiana. The forward-thinking initiatives showcased by Jeff and his team during that seminar made a lasting impression on me and influenced my professional growth and career trajectory.”
Harris adds, “During COVID, Jeff’s leadership helped guide NALIT through uncertainty. He’s an inspiration.”
Ford’s innovative hiring practices have also strengthened Indiana’s tech team. He found a way to onboard top foreign-born graduates who might otherwise have been passed over due to bureaucratic constraints. “Our staff is stronger because of it,” Ford says.
‘Stars Wars’ a Touchstone
Colleagues also point to Ford’s sense of humor and humanity. One favorite topic? “Star Wars.”
“I was 12 when the first movie came out. I saw it seven times. It was transformational,” Ford says. He asks job candidates if they have seen “Star Wars” and which Jedi or Sith character they identify with. One applicant had never seen the films. “I jokingly ended the interview,” he says. The candidate protested and promised to watch the movies. She became one of his best hires.
The “Star Wars” questions are “actually a pretty good introspective into just how somebody operates, and how they can take an off-the-cuff question and deal with it,” Brown says. “It’s a good little break from the normal questions and try to find out a little more about somebody at a personal level.” He adds that Ford has hosted team movie nights when a new film comes out.
Ford implemented the nation’s first web-based legislative voting system, as well as a robust cybersecurity program to protect against modern threats. He is active on Indiana’s AI task force and continues to advise legislatures across the country.
Outside the office, Ford leads an active life as a basketball player, triathlete and martial artist. In addition, he and his wife coached diving; she was an All-American and spent several years working with Olympic athletes through USA Diving. He serves as a bishop in his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he and his wife have five children and six grandchildren.
“He’s always talking about his kids and doing stuff for his kids,” Brown says.
Ford is thinking about the future. “As I wind my career down, I’m looking for that lasting thing I can leave behind. Hopefully, it’s not just the drafting system I started 27 years ago.”
Ford’s retirement is on Brown’s mind, too. “There isn’t another Jeff Ford," he says, citing his colleague’s vision and institutional knowledge. “I’ve told him that my biggest challenge is figuring out who will replace him.”
Denver-based freelance writer Gene Rose retired from NCSL in 2023.