Spotlight on Nathan Rogers, SVP Infrastructure Enablement & CIO, SAIC

Nathan Rogers is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Infrastructure Enablement at SAIC, where he leads enterprise technology, cloud, cybersecurity, data, AI, real estate and security in support of national security and government missions. He is known for combining disciplined execution with a people-first leadership approach to drive large-scale transformation in highly regulated environments. Nathan is also an active board member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and a frequent contributor to CIO peer communities.

Fun fact: Nathan has built and led the same core business analyst and data integration team across multiple companies and 7 acquisitions for more than 25 years — a testament to his belief that organizational health is the ultimate force multiplier.

Learn more about the Boston CIO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

My path to the CIO role was shaped by operating at the intersection of finance, technology, and leadership. I began my career in accounting and shared services, helping stand up enterprise systems and SOX-ready operations during private equity carve-outs and public company transformations. That foundation led to CIO roles where I focused on M&A integration, operating-model design, and value creation. Over time, this evolved into leading enterprise-wide transformation at scale — using technology as a strategic enabler of mission, performance, and culture.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Organizational health comes first. When people have clarity, trust, and psychological safety, they execute better, adapt faster, and achieve outcomes that would otherwise be impossible. Technology strategies succeed only when leadership, culture, and alignment are strong.
 

What is the greatest challenge CIOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

One of the greatest challenges CIOs face today is balancing the speed of innovation — particularly with AI — against risk, governance, and trust. The solution is not to slow down, but to lead deliberately. I address this by establishing clear governance and guardrails early, aligning technology decisions to enterprise purpose, and ensuring leaders and teams are educated and empowered to move responsibly at speed.
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?

Think beyond your function. The most successful C-level leaders develop enterprise perspectives early, build strong relationships across the organization, and invest deeply in their people. Technical competence matters, but leadership, communication, and judgment matter more — especially under pressure…and be passionate about everything you do.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

I measure success by outcomes and by health. Outcomes include business impact, mission delivery, and sustained performance. Health shows up in engagement, retention, trust, and whether teams grow stronger over time. When both are present, success is durable.
 

What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?

The value of Gartner C-level Communities lies in trusted peer exchange. These forums create space for honest conversations about leadership, strategy, and complexity — not just technology. The ability to learn from others, share real-world experiences, and contribute to advancing the role of the CIO is invaluable.
 

Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.