How ND’s Chief Technology Officer Brings People Together, One Challenge at a Time
It’s a gorgeous summer day east of Bismarck, and a handful of NDIT team members are lined up at Capital City Sporting Clays, shotguns in hand and eyes fixed on the launcher. A target pigeon catapults into the sunny North Dakota sky before a thunderous boom echoes across the range.
The fake bird lands to the ground, untouched.
“You know you’re supposed to hit it, right?!” one onlooker calls, sparking chuckles from the others and a quick-witted rebuttal from the shooter.
It’s all in good fun.
Another team member steps up for her turn. She hasn’t shot in a while, and she’s a little nervous. As she raises her firearm and focuses her gaze, a calm voice reaches her from a few yards away.
“Remember to take a deep breath. Ease up on your shoulder and keep your eye on the target. You’re gonna have to lead it a bit.”
The advice seems to do the trick.
“Pull!” she shouts. The launcher snaps, the shotgun kicks, and a burst of orange dust fills the air. As her spent shell tumbles to the ground, the shooter breaks into a happy dance while cheers erupt from the group.
“You’re a natural!” the reassuring voice calls out. It belongs to Craig Felchle, the down-to-earth IT executive who invited everyone out for the day.
Felchle lives for moments like this. As Chief Technology Officer for the State of North Dakota, he’s all about bringing people together, not just through technology, but through the connections it makes possible.
Whether he’s shooting at clays or shooting the breeze with colleagues about the future of digital government, Felchle firmly believes that great things come from teamwork—and everyone deserves a shot at success.
Craig Felchle believes the best experiences are the ones shared with others. Whether taking on a new challenge or bringing people together, he’s always ready to make memories and have a little fun along the way.
Never One to Sit on the Sidelines
Swap out the shotgun for smooth ice and move a few miles across town, you’ll find another place where Felchle feels right at home: Capital City Curling Club. As stones glide gracefully and sweepers work vigorously, you’ll often find him somewhere in the middle of it all.
Felchle’s been involved in both sporting clays and curling for more than 25 years, and each holds a special place in his heart. He met his wife, Sarah, in high school gym class through curling, while his dad introduced him to sporting clays around the same time. Both reflect what matters most to him: connection, shared experiences, and making time for people.
That same spirit carries into Felchle’s family life today. He and Sarah, who also works for the state at the Department of Water Resources, have two daughters, and he’s always willing to jump into something new in their worlds. Like when Sarah signed him up to coach their soccer teams. He knew virtually nothing about the sport, but that didn’t stop him. He turned to YouTube, teamed up with two other dads (now lifelong friends), and spent five or six years learning as he went.
That’s something you’ll notice about Felchle right away. He’s not one to back away from a challenge, and he grows on you quickly.
“I always like to do something a little bit outside of the comfort zone,” he says with a smile. “Something that’s a little bit crazy. And I always try to get people to join me.”
One example of Felchle’s adventurous side is when he and Sarah traveled with his soccer friends and their wives to Germany for Octoberfest. He’s also hiked the Swiss Alps, and skydiving and a hot-air balloon ride remain on his bucket list.
Whether he’s learning a new sport, cheering on his daughters, or encouraging a colleague to try something unfamiliar, Felchle finds value in the experience itself—and in the relationships created along the way.
Felchle brings the same team spirit to the curling rink as he does to his work at NDIT. For him, it’s about more than the game—it’s about building connections, sharing laughs, and enjoying the people alongside him.
A Career Built on Perspective
A Bismarck native, Felchle attended University of Mary before beginning his state government career with an internship in 2004 and moving into full-time work in 2005. After stints at Health and Human Services, the Bank of North Dakota, and the Attorney General’s office, he joined NDIT in 2007.
He started in Tier 2 system administration and went on to work in Linux and Windows administration, lead Network Engineering, direct Cloud Infrastructure and, ultimately, become CTO. Across roughly six roles at NDIT, Felchle gained a broad view of the organization and the many layers of technology that support state government.
“My goal with all those was to broaden my background so I could help inform across the broader spectrum of technology,” he says, “because it takes all those layers to come together to accomplish great things.”
That perspective drives how Felchle approaches the work today. He often comes back to three essentials: people, process, and technology. While technology itself can be relatively straightforward to acquire, success depends on having the right people in the right roles and clear processes to guide the work.
That’s why Felchle and his team ask important questions early when partnering with other agencies: Who will set up the solution? Who will support it? Who will keep it secure? Those conversations may not always be easy, but they inspire success out of the gate and prevent problems later, helping everyone work toward the same outcome.
It’s a practical approach, especially given the breadth of work on NDIT’s plate.
Outside of work, Felchle’s greatest adventures are often the ones he shares with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters. Whether cheering them on or trying something new, family is an important part of what keeps him grounded and ready for the next challenge.
A Lot on the Target Board
From strengthening foundational technology to helping agencies embrace emerging opportunities, Felchle’s responsibilities touch nearly every corner of state government. Some projects happen behind the scenes, while others directly affect how North Dakotans access services, protect information, or get help during an emergency. All require strong coordination across teams and organizations.
One major effort is the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN), which is building a unified, secure communications network for law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and other public safety partners. Historically, separate radio systems sometimes made it difficult for first responders from different agencies to communicate during emergencies. SIRN is changing that.
Cybersecurity and modernization are equally important. Like when NDIT needs to roll out updated Microsoft multifactor authentication (MFA) standards for key stakeholders to strengthen account security and protect sensitive information.
There’s also a large push to address tech debt—the burden of aging systems, outdated infrastructure, and past technical decisions that can make future upgrades more difficult. As these systems evolve, Felchle helps teams balance immediate needs with long-term goals, ensuring technology investments support the state’s changing demands.
Additionally, there’s North Dakota’s work in advanced drone operations. Through Vantis, Felchle’s teams and others helped North Dakota become the first non-federal entity in the country to access unfiltered Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar data for unmanned aircraft operations. The capability supports drone flights beyond a pilot’s direct line of sight while accounting for surrounding air traffic, creating opportunities for uses such as search and rescue, infrastructure inspections, precision agriculture, and rural service delivery.
Another statewide priority Felchle has been heavily involved in is digital accessibility. As North Dakota works to meet evolving federal regulations, agencies must ensure websites, online forms, documents, and other digital services are accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use assistive technology. Felchle and various teams have been instrumental in improving access to government information and services along the way.
Then there’s artificial intelligence, an area Felchle is endlessly curious about and one that is increasingly shaping conversations about government’s future. AI is improving efficiency, helping employees work with complex data, and creating new ways to deliver services. But realizing those benefits requires careful consideration of privacy, security, accuracy, responsible use, and infrastructure. Felchle has helped bring NDIT’s perspective to these discussions, including through the state’s inaugural Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee, where technology intersects with broader questions about economic development, energy, infrastructure, and North Dakota’s future needs.
The list goes on and on, but the same principle runs through every initiative Felchle touches: meaningful progress depends on bringing the right people together, asking the right questions, and keeping the bigger picture in view.
Felchle shares NDIT’s vision for the future of technology, bringing people together to explore new ideas, tackle challenges, and advance digital government across North Dakota.
Aiming for Something Bigger
Ask Felchle why NDIT is special, and his answer is as clear as a clay target: the agency offers technology professionals the chance to tackle meaningful projects, serve North Dakotans, and build a rewarding career. The culture and people, he says, are among the best in the state.
“You can build the next 30 years of your career here, if you so desire,” he adds.
And just like at the shooting range, Felchle knows the best results come when everyone aims for the right goal—helping one another succeed.