Duane Powell has served as Chief Information Officer for the City of Hilliard, Ohio, since 2019. In this role, he leads the Information Technology Department and plays a vital role in leveraging technology to support the City’s economic development initiatives.  

Powell has managed the development of Hilliard’s 30-mile, $4 million HiFiO project, a carrier-neutral, City-owned fiber optic network that is expanding broadband service provider options for businesses, schools, and residential customers. 

Powell also has been instrumental in creating a partnership with Hilliard-based Converge Technologies to develop Hilliard City Lab. This public-private partnership allows the City to support the development and growth of entrepreneurial high-tech companies by providing access to resources such as the City’s smart infrastructure, real-time data analytics, innovation grants, and help in identifying other funding sources. 

Powell serves as a Regional Commander for the Ohio Cyber Reserve. The OhCR is a volunteer force under the Adjutant General with teams of trained civilians that increases the states response capability in support of the Ohio National Guard cyber forces when activated for State Active Duty 

Powell came to the City of Hilliard with an extensive background in information technology and project management. He held multiple positions with AT&T between 1995 and 2019, including Senior Product Development Engineer with AT&T Labs in Dallas and AT&T Network Operations in New Jersey. 

He has a master’s degree in Information and Computer Science from Ball State University and bachelor’s degree in business and organizational communication from Otterbein University.