GULFPORT, Miss. — The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) has named Dr. Kollin Napier as its Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. This newly established role reflects the growing importance of artificial intelligence to Mississippi’s future.
Since MAIN’s inception, Dr. Napier has helped lead the growth of Mississippi’s statewide AI initiative. That work has brought together education, workforce development, government, industry, and communities around a shared vision for artificial intelligence.
Under his leadership, MAIN has expanded access to AI education, strengthened strategic partnerships, and advanced statewide workforce initiatives. As a result, Mississippi is now recognized as a national leader in coordinated AI readiness.
What the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer role means for Mississippi
This transition reflects the continued growth of MAIN. It also reflects the increasing importance of artificial intelligence to the state’s future.
As Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Dr. Napier will continue to lead MAIN’s statewide strategy. In addition, he will help establish Mississippi’s first physical AI Hub. That hub will start on the Gulf Coast and serve as the foundation for a broader network of hubs statewide.
While titles evolve, MAIN’s mission remains unchanged. The network prepares Mississippians for the opportunities created by artificial intelligence through education, workforce development, strategic partnerships, innovation, and responsible adoption.
In his own words: a message from Dr. Napier
Artificial intelligence will not transform Mississippi simply because the technology exists. It will transform Mississippi because people across our state choose to prepare for it, shape it, and use it with purpose.
That responsibility is growing, and so is my role.
I am grateful to share that I am transitioning into the newly established role of Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer for the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN).
Over the past several years, I have had the privilege of leading MAIN from an ambitious vision into Mississippi’s statewide AI initiative, the first of its kind in the nation and now recognized nationally for bringing together education, workforce development, government, industry, and communities around a shared vision for AI.
The work behind that progress has been demanding and deeply personal. It has meant years of travel, relationship-building, advocacy, and difficult conversations, grounded in a belief that Mississippi should help shape how AI is understood, adopted, and applied for the benefit of our people rather than simply react to it.
Along the way, I have worked with educators, students, public servants, business leaders, technology partners, and communities across our state. Their trust, collaboration, and willingness to embrace new ideas have shown what is possible when people unite around a common purpose.
This transition reflects the growing responsibility of MAIN’s mission as AI becomes increasingly important to Mississippi’s future.
In this role, I will continue expanding MAIN’s statewide impact while helping establish Mississippi’s first physical AI Hub, beginning on the Gulf Coast and designed as the foundation for a broader network of AI hubs serving communities statewide. My focus will remain the same: expanding opportunity, strengthening our workforce, supporting innovation, and ensuring that AI creates lasting value for the people and organizations we serve.
I am proud of what MAIN has become and grateful to the many partners who believed in this mission, opened doors, challenged our thinking, and helped turn that vision into real progress.
Mississippi has reached an important moment. AI is no longer a niche technology or a distant conversation. It is already shaping education, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, government, economic development, and the future of work.
I am honored to continue serving our state.
Building an AI-ready Mississippi
MAIN is grateful to the many educators, institutions, government agencies, businesses, community organizations, and technology partners who make this work possible. Together, the network will continue building an AI-ready Mississippi.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Napier on this new role. We also invite you to support the next chapter of MAIN’s mission.