[5][6] After serving as an interim leader since January 2015,[7][8] Kurtenbach became Iowa State University's vice president and chief information officer in 2016,[9] and resigned the position the following year.

Kurtenbach first ran for office in 2002, finishing first in a three-way party primary against James Culter and Ray Holtorf, then defeating incumbent and redistricted legislator Dennis Parmenter.

[18] He then led the Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign in north central Iowa.

[20][21] In the following election cycle, Kurtenbach joined the Tim Pawlenty 2012 presidential campaign.

[20][22] Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Kurtenbach head of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services in June 2019,[23] and he served until March 2020.