Walsh appoints Smart City manager

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has announced the appointment of Vincent Scipione as the City of Syracuse’s Smart City manager.

As Smart City manager, Scipione will develop data-driven, smart-city infrastructure and programs, Walsh’s office said.

Scipione will work with other city departments such as the office of analytics, performance and innovation (API) and information technology to bring together a “diverse set of government, academic and private-sector partners.”

Reporting to the director of strategic initiatives, the role plays a “key part” in the Syracuse Surge strategy — Walsh’s strategy for “inclusive growth in the New Economy.”

Scipione will support the development and implementation of local digital-equity plans, — including the community-broadband program — to address the “digital divide” in Syracuse. He will monitor the effectiveness of projects using Internet of Things and other “smart” systems to enable “more efficient and equitable” city operations.

He will also ensure projects maintain alignment with data, privacy, and surveillance-related policies and plans.

Scipione previously worked in a technical capacity at Caterpillar, Inc. and at SIDEARM Sports. In his previous roles, he developed cloud-based infrastructure, automated deployment tools, and managed digital-product launches.

Scipione earned his master’s degree in information management from Syracuse University, in addition to a certificate of advanced study in data science and his bachelor’s degree in information management and technology.

Scipione has since returned to the university as an adjunct professor in the School of Information Studies, which is also known as the iSchool. He is also a 2022 graduate of FOCUS Greater Syracuse’s Citizens Academy and a founding member of the Salt Springs Neighborhood Association, Walsh’s office said.