Details
| Headline | Digital Transformation Executive | Urban Innovation Leader | Former CIO | 2024 IT Local Leader | 2024 Ranked Top 10 Local Government CIOs | 2021 Cybersecurity Leader of the Year | 2x Fortune 500 Executive |
| First Name | Michael |
| Last Name | Pegues |
| Nickname | Michael |
| Phone | |
| Company Website | |
| Biography | I am a technology executive, smart city strategist, digital transformation expert, cybersecurity and technology risk leader with over 30 years of experience in IT consulting, urban innovation, telecom infrastructure, and public safety technology. As Co-Founder & President of Aurora Dynamic Solutions LLC, I lead strategic advisory services, helping government and enterprise organizations navigate digital transformation, IT modernization, and operational resilience. Previously, I served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the City of Aurora, Illinois, overseeing municipal IT operations, cybersecurity initiatives, and smart city programs, including the implementation of IoT-driven urban solutions and innovative managed services models to optimize efficiency. Before that, I held global leadership roles at Morgan Stanley, Vodafone, and Hewlett-Packard, managing enterprise IT, cybersecurity portfolios, and large-scale infrastructure projects. I also served within the U.S. Department of Defense, managing logistics automation systems supporting military operations. My role included leading IT integration projects, optimizing processes, delivering infrastructure refresh initiatives, and ensuring mission-critical support during crises and wartime operations. Additionally, I am an Adjunct Professor of Smart Cities & Communities at Aurora University, where I educate and mentor the next generation of leaders in digital governance, public sector innovation, and sustainable urban development. As a Service-Disabled Veteran and former member of the 82nd Airborne Division, I am deeply committed to empowering veterans through entrepreneurship, workforce development, and technology leadership. |
| Accomplishments | Developing Aurora’s First-Ever Digital Plan I spearheaded the creation of Aurora’s Digital Plan, establishing a strategic roadmap that positioned the city as a national leader in smart city innovation. This initiative integrated IoT solutions, broadband expansion, cybersecurity enhancements, and digital equity programs, ensuring sustainable urban growth and technological advancement. More information: http://www.smartaurora.com/ Strengthening Aurora’s Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure with Data Defenders I led the implementation of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy for the City of Aurora in partnership with Data Defenders, ensuring advanced threat protection, risk mitigation, and operational resilience across critical municipal infrastructure. This initiative established the Aurora Regional Security Operations Center (RSOC), a pioneering cybersecurity utility designed to support municipal agencies across multiple counties. Through enhanced threat intelligence, proactive defense measures, and secure system integrations, Aurora reinforced its position as a leader in cybersecurity innovation for smart cities. A key component of this effort was securing critical infrastructure, including the public safety network, which supports emergency response communications and law enforcement operations, and the water treatment plant, ensuring process control security for essential utilities. By prioritizing municipal cybersecurity, public safety resilience, and infrastructure protection, I helped fortify Aurora’s digital and operational security against evolving threats. This initiative positioned Aurora as a national model for municipal cybersecurity, providing long-term protection for vital services while optimizing technology investments for sustained security and efficiency. More information: https://data-defenders.com/events/arsoclaunch Leveraging Data Analytics for Crisis Management During a tragic mass shooting in Aurora, I led efforts to integrate real-time data analytics to support emergency response and crisis communication. Using the Zencity platform, we aggregated social media, news, and public safety data, enabling city officials to track public sentiment, manage misinformation, and coordinate response efforts effectively. Enabled real-time monitoring of public discourse and emergency updates. Improved crisis communication, ensuring accurate information reached residents. Helped secure $500,000 in community support for victims’ families. More information: https://zencity.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Zencity-Case-Study_-AI-in-a-Time-of-Crisis.pdf Leading Aurora Through the COVID-19 Pandemic During one of the most challenging periods in recent history, I guided Aurora’s IT strategy through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of government operations, secure remote work capabilities, and digital access for residents. My leadership in smart city solutions, cybersecurity, and digital inclusion helped Aurora navigate the crisis effectively, reinforcing the city’s resilience and adaptability. Transforming Technology Procurement with Marketplace.city I led the successful implementation of Marketplace.city in Aurora, revolutionizing the city’s technology procurement process to enhance efficiency, transparency, and cost savings. Through this initiative, Aurora streamlined vendor selection, contract negotiations, and technology validation, ensuring that government agencies could access innovative solutions faster and with reduced risk. The Smart Sourcing process helped lower costs, accelerate project timelines, and improve decision-making for municipal technology investments. This transformation positioned Aurora as a regional technology hub, enabling data-driven procurement strategies that fostered smart city growth, digital infrastructure expansion, and public service enhancements. More information: https://marketplace.city/cities/aurora No Child Left Offline Recognizing the digital divide in underserved communities, I led the No Child Left Offline initiative, ensuring high-speed internet access for students and families. Partnering with OnLight Aurora and Scientel Solutions, we upgraded network infrastructure across multiple organizations, providing reliable connectivity for remote learning, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. More information: https://scientelsolutions.com/case_studies/no-child-left-offline/ Aurora STEAM Academy I played a crucial role in launching the Aurora STEAM Academy, a free educational program designed to equip students with essential digital skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). Through this initiative, led by Aurora’s IT Department and Youth Services Division, we created hands-on learning experiences for K-8 students, helping bridge the digital skills gap and fostering future innovators. More information: https://www.apstrainingacademy.org/ Enhancing Public Safety with the Critical Incident Intelligence Center & 911 Dispatch Upgrade Directly supported the successful implementation and modernization of Aurora’s Critical Incident Intelligence Center (CIIC) and 911 dispatch system, transforming the city’s emergency response capabilities through real-time intelligence, advanced communication technology, and data-driven decision-making. The CIIC now serves as a real-time crime center, integrating video surveillance, crime analytics, and emergency response coordination to support law enforcement and public safety teams. The upgraded 911 dispatch center, featuring state-of-the-art communication systems and smart technology, has significantly improved response times, inter-agency coordination, and situational awareness for first responders2. This initiative has positioned Aurora as a leader in public safety innovation, ensuring faster emergency response, enhanced crisis management, and improved community protection. More information:
Fortinet Partnership for Cybersecurity & Network Modernization To strengthen Aurora’s cybersecurity and network infrastructure, I led the city’s partnership with Fortinet, deploying next-generation firewalls, AI-powered security services, and secure SD-WAN solutions. This initiative enhanced network segmentation, improved threat detection, and reduced operational costs, saving the city millions of dollars while boosting security and efficiency. More information: https://www.fortinet.com/customers/city-of-aurora
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