By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Dr. Chris Fichera, Assistant Professor SoBTH/Chair, Faculty Advisory Board
Reading Time: 4 minutes
As someone who spent decades managing complex IT projects for NASA, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force, Dr. Chris Fichera understands what it takes to deliver mission-critical systems securely and effectively. Today, as assistant professor and chair of the Faculty Advisory Board at Capella University, he helps future technology leaders develop the skills to manage those same kinds of high-stakes projects in a fast-changing digital world.
An IT project manager leads technology initiatives from start to finish. They coordinate teams, manage timelines and ensure that technology solutions are delivered efficiently, securely and in line with organizational goals. These professionals serve as the connection point between business needs and technical execution, helping translate strategy into results.
Project management has become a strategic core of IT. Every system implementation, cloud migration or cybersecurity upgrade introduces new risks and dependencies.
As organizations become more dependent on digital infrastructure, project managers must now navigate both technical complexity and cybersecurity risk.
Dr. Fichera has seen firsthand how the role of IT project managers has evolved. “What we once focused on – scope, schedule and cost – now requires a broader responsibility: safeguarding systems and data amid constant cyber threats,” Dr. Fichera explains. “Today’s project managers must lead with both precision and resilience. Their challenge is to make sure innovation never compromises security.”
A proactive mindset helps organizations build systems that can withstand disruption and adapt to change. Project managers use frameworks like Agile and DevSecOps to align people, processes and technology around shared goals while maintaining compliance and system integrity.
“Cybersecurity has to be part of how the project is conceived, planned and governed,” Dr. Fichera emphasizes. “Early stakeholder engagement, integrated risk management and iterative testing ensure security and continuity are never an afterthought.”
Successful IT project managers don’t just understand technology – they also understand people, strategy and communication. They act as translators between technical teams and business leaders, ensuring that both groups are aligned on outcomes and organizational goals.
“Technology initiatives succeed not only because of engineering excellence but because they align with organizational goals,” says Dr. Fichera. “Project managers make that alignment possible.”
Dr. Fichera emphasizes that the most effective IT project managers master both “hard” and “soft” skills to help them bridge technology and business priorities:
“These skills aren’t developed overnight,” adds Dr. Fichera. “They come from continuous learning, mentorship and hands-on experience.”
As technology continues to evolve, the next decade will transform how organizations manage technology. Automation, artificial intelligence and cloud-native development will streamline many routine tasks, allowing IT project managers to focus more on strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and ethical governance.
“The future belongs to project managers who can integrate technology, people and ethics,” Dr. Fichera explains, noting that these changes will elevate rather than replace the role of IT project managers. “They’ll ensure that automation and AI enhance, rather than compromise, organizational resilience and trust.”
Capella’s MS in Information Technology, Project Management program helps prepare students for a world of constant technological change by integrating project management methodologies with advanced IT knowledge.
“Capella’s program equips students with the framework to lead,” Dr. Fichera says. “We focus on applying project management principles through the lens of cybersecurity, risk management and organizational strategy.”
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