White House Announces Vivek Kundra As Chief Information Officer

The White House announced this morning that Vivek Kundra will be the administration's Chief Information Officer. Kundra served as the Chief Technology Officer for the Government of the District of Columbia and was voted the 2008 IT Executive of the Year.

Kundra will direct technology ventures for US agencies and will "play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible," according to a statement from the President.

Check out more of the statement below this video of Kundra promoting transparency initiatives for DC with Google Apps:

President Obama Names Vivek Kundra Chief Information Officer

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama named Vivek Kundra the Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the White House.

The Federal Chief Information Officer directs the policy and strategic planning of federal information technology investments and is responsible for oversight of federal technology spending. The Federal CIO establishes and oversees enterprise architecture to ensure system interoperability and information sharing and ensure information security and privacy across the federal government. The CIO will also work closely with the Chief Technology Officer to advance the President's technology agenda.

President Obama said, "Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position. I have directed him to work to ensure that we are using the spirit of American innovation and the power of technology to improve performance and lower the cost of government operations. As Chief Information Officer, he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible."

The following announcement was made today:

Vivek Kundra, Federal Chief Information Officer

Vivek Kundra formerly served in Mayor Fenty's cabinet as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the District of Columbia, responsible for technology operations and strategy for 86 agencies. He has been recognized among the top 25 CTO's in the country and as the 2008 IT Executive of the Year for his pioneering work to drive transparency, engage citizens and lower the cost of government operations. Kundra is also recognized for his leadership in public safety communications, cyber security and IT portfolio management. Before Kundra came to the District, Governor Timothy M. Kaine appointed him Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the first dual cabinet role in the state's history. Kundra's diverse record also includes technology and public policy experience in private industry and academia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and holds a MS in Information Technology from the University of Maryland.

Comments

[PhilipTaylor]

06:33 PM on 03/05/2009

Where is the CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Obama promised?

[fgr1111]

06:00 PM on 03/05/2009

Just imagine if we hadn't had The Bush Cartel and right wing extremists run the world for eight years... (40 really)
And that the media wasn't owned by them,
The Obama administration would make this country a real World Power in every respect.

Instead we have the right wing legacy.

[AceInTheHole]

04:52 PM on 03/05/2009

After so many years of watching the so called "Smart Guys "run the country into a ditch, it is so refreshing to see "real smart guy" getting a chance to straighten this mess out. Looks like the real "grown ups" are in charge again. And we need to give them all the verbal, financial, and any other type support, that they need to get the job done, and to turn the tide on the feeble minded miscreants, who have put our democracy at risk.

[AceInTheHole]

04:29 PM on 03/05/2009

Now here is a "REAL" SMART GUY!
GO OBAMA GO!

Does Obama ever sleep? He gives new meaning to the word workaholic.
NOW IT'S CLEAR TO SEE WHY HE WAS AN A STUDENT, HE COULD HE NOT BE, AS HARD AS HE WORKS, NO DOUBT HE EARNED EVERY A THAT HE RECEIVED!

[AceInTheHole]

04:39 PM on 03/05/2009

I hear that this guy is a hackers worst nightmare and has caused some of them to come close to committing suicide. They say I.Q. is higher than Angel hair. lol

[Abrafo]

04:47 PM on 03/05/2009

Yeee!!

[renatam]

03:53 PM on 03/05/2009

Congratulations to Vivek!!!

[jack7576]

03:35 PM on 03/05/2009

Vivek Kundra was born in India in the city of New Delhi. He grew up in Tanzania and speaks Swahili as his first language. His family moved to the U.S. when he was 11 and he grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivek_Kundra

[whitemerlot]

03:23 PM on 03/05/2009

Obama doesn't fool around. When he wants to get something done, he picks the best. A hardcore, Indian IT guy will have the administration doing things online that most people can only dream of. Applications that can read your mind and tell you if it's worth it or not. Anti-virus software that can preven virus hackers from being born. File systems that can cook you dinner. You name it, it'll get done ;)

[Abrafo]

04:49 PM on 03/05/2009

LOL if possible yeah!

[lacrosse]

07:06 PM on 03/05/2009

Picks the best? Like Geithner? A tax cheat for Treasury sec? And what a great job he is doing! Can't even get anyone to join his team! LOL.

[devanate]

02:01 PM on 03/05/2009

Such a relief to have a president who picks appropriate appointees for each job.
http://odreport.blogspot.com

[BiggerBiggerPicture]

01:30 PM on 03/05/2009

The Citizen's Briefing Book is still off line. If Obama's campaign allows it, why should it off line now?

[NavyMom44]

07:52 PM on 03/05/2009

because WH wiring is outdated & can't handle all the IT going on in this admin

[BiggerBiggerPicture]

06:24 AM on 03/06/2009

This is such a bull. If Huffington Press can handle it, WH can. Are you an agent of WH or something? How do you know? Why isn't there a WH official explanation? Highly suspicious!

[NCRDIBULL]

01:29 PM on 03/05/2009

and what felonies has he been charged with.

[jacklaver]

12:58 PM on 03/05/2009

Great. I am so happy to see that we have finally completed the outsourcing of our entire technology industry. Well done Obama & Company.

[dratster]

01:23 PM on 03/05/2009

Why? Are you disappointed that he did not select a "real American". As I understand it he is an American citizen with degrees from 2 Ameican universities and is known for his abilities....

So how is this outsourcing, interested in your informed answer.

[louden]

01:25 PM on 03/05/2009

What are you talking about?

[huffingt]

12:56 PM on 03/05/2009

Vivek Kundra, Dr. Gupta ---Go Obama with a few more bright people.
You have good eye for selecting competent people and a multi cultural administration.

[historymatters]

12:56 PM on 03/05/2009

He'll have his work cut out for him. The White House computer system is a joke. Doubt that the rest of the administrative branch is much better. I wish him luck!!!

[mattwin]

01:04 PM on 03/05/2009

Actually the White House computer system is not a joke. Some of the folks that formerly operated some of it were though.

[silverball]

12:27 PM on 03/05/2009

....finally....adults again......

[louden]

12:19 PM on 03/05/2009

If there's no area that has a tremendous amount of low hanging fruit - it's this!

8 years of an old-school, luddite Bush administration. I'll predict right now, that on the scale that they can do things - they'll propose ideas that will save billions doing the simple stuff.

Just keep oversight and transparency in every bit of technology you implement.