Gov. John Carney loses another member of his cabinet .

Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins is leaving this month for a private sector technology job.

He’s the fourth cabinet member to depart or announce plans to leave this year – joining the Secretaries of Health and Social Services, Safety and Homeland Security, and Transportation.

Collins led the Delaware Department of Technology and Information for the past six years. He took over the department during former Gov. Jack Markell’s administration.

“James has been a central member of our team since Day 1 when I asked him to continue to lead DTI and Delaware’s transition to a more digital government,” said Carney in a statement. “But his work and expertise has never been more important than over the last six months – as we have battled this COVID-19 pandemic. James and his team have kept state workers connected throughout this crisis, making sure they could continue to deliver vital services to Delaware families. He has worked with the private sector to expand high-speed broadband service across rural Delaware and to protect Delawareans from cyber threats.”

Collins previously served as director of the state’s Division of Professional Regulation, deputy Secretary of State, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and deputy chief of staff to Gov. Markell.

Collins leaves to join Microsoft Consulting as a General Manager focused on state and local government and higher education.

DTI’s chief operating officer, Jason Clarke, will serve as acting CIO. Gov. Carney will send his nomination to fill the post to the State Senate for consideration before the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

The change in DTI leadership comes as the state faces election security questions about the OmniBallot system, an internet based voting platform the state is piloting.

Researchers at MIT and the University of Michigan recently reported the system poses a severe risk to election security.

The system was partially reinstated by Delaware’s Department of Elections as additional security enhancements are made with more possible before the general election in November