Overseeing billions of dollars in IT budgets is more than enough to subject federal CIOs to the white hot glare of the public spotlight. At the very least, those who are unable to overcome the perception of IT serving as a cost center break a sweat or can be removed.
Federal CIOs share virtually the same responsibilities of their corporate counterparts but with the added burden of national security. They are inevitably associated with the current administration despite the apolitical nature of most agencies.
Government IT leadership is reliant upon the transparencies in an agency’s C-suite structure, for without it, deployment of new strategies is threatened if not extinguished entirely.
In recent months, federal CIOs have retired, resigned or been removed, but these shifts complicate planned actions initiated by the former CIO.
Squandered by mandated agency-wide regulation and system maintenance, creativity takes a backseat, a point of frustration for CIOs eager to present blueprints capable of better streamlining business processes.
CIO Dive is examining the current state of federal IT leadership. Included is a look at 19 federal agencies with the largest IT budgets in FY16 and the Office of the Federal CIO, which directs the use of federal IT.
Status Current
Tenure February 2016 – present
Predecessor Robert Kazimer May 2010 – December 2015
For FY 2016, about 88% of the department's IT projects remained on budget and 79% of projects complied with the allotted timeline, according to the federal IT Dashboard.
Status Acting
Tenure September 2017 – present
Predecessor: Jonathan Alboum June 2015 – August 2017 (removed as CIO and reassigned to senior procurement role in USDA)
In September, USDA Secretary Sonny Purdue, announced plans to eliminate “redundant administrative support functions” including the 22 CIOs in the USDA’s various branches.
Status Acting
Tenure January 2017 – present
Predecessor Steven Cooper June 2014 – January 2017
The DOC was one of just four federal agencies to receive a ‘B+’ for the most recent FITARA scoring. However, it received a ‘C’ for both CIO authority and data center optimization initiatives.
Status Acting
Tenure December 2017 - present
PredecessorJohn Zangardi, acting CIOMarch 2017 – October 2017 Terry Halvorsen June 2014 – February 2017
The U.S. Air Force, a branch of the DOD, is working to revamp its IT strategy and modernize communication, collaboration and management tools as part of a $1 billion, five-year contract.
Status Current
Tenure May 2016 – present
Predecessor Danny Harris October 2008 – February 2016
In May, the CIOs of the IRS and Department of Education both faced criticism from the House Oversight Committee after a data breach of a student financial aid applications tool potentially impacted about 100,000 Americans.
Status Current
Tenure July 2017 – present
The Energy Department raised its October 2015 FITARA score of an F to a ‘C-’, according to the most recent FITARA report.
Status Acting
Tenure January 2017 – present
Predecessor Ann Dunkin February 2015 – January 2017
The EPA reported 92% of its IT projects remained on schedule while 88% remained on budget, according to the federal IT Dashboard.
Status Acting
Tenure January 2017 - present
Predecessor Tony Scott February 2015 – January 2017
Former federal CIO Tony Scott said vast improvements occurred during the Obama administration for federal IT. He commends the implementation of the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) as a piece of legislation, which will withstand inevitable changes to overall IT strategy and transformations.
Status Current
Tenure August 2015 – present
Predecessor Sonny Hashmi January 2014 – March 2015
The GSA is considering developing a civilian cybersecurity campus in Washington D.C., aimed at centralizing its facilities instead of continuing to lease space from the Department of Homeland Security.
Status Current
Tenure July 2016 – present (previously acting CIO)
PredecessorFrank Baitman February 2012 - November 2015
HHS requires healthcare organizations to report breaches within 60 days of detection.
Status Current
Tenureappointed in October 2017
PredecessorsStephen Rice, acting CIOSeptember 2017 – present Richard Staropoli May 2017 – September 2017 Luke McCormack December 2013 – May 2017
The DHS announced in September that all federal agencies remove Kaspersky Lab software from computer networks following mounting criticisms and accusations for its alleged Kremlin ties.
Status Current
Tenure October 2014 – present
Predecessor Bernard Mazer June 2010 – July 2014
The Department of the Interior has a relatively high FITARA score of a ‘B’ for CIO authority, portfolio, and transparency and risk management. However, an ‘F’ score in data center optimization brought its overall score to a ‘C+.’
Status Current
Tenure May 2014 – present
Predecessor Luke McCormack March 2012 – November 2013
From 2015-2016, the DOJ received 28 recommendations regarding program efficiency and resource management for its different branches including the DEA and FBI, according to a GAO report from March 2017. However, at least eight of those recommendations have not been completed and four were disputed.
Status Current
Tenure October 2016 – present
Predecessor Dawn Leaf 2014 – September 2016
The Department of Labor’s overall FITARA score was downgraded from a ‘D’ to a ‘D-’ after scoring an ‘F’ for both CIO authority and data center optimization initiatives, according to the most recent report.
Status Current
Tenure September 2015 – present
Predecessor Larry Sweet June 2013 – October 2015 (stayed on as advisory through November but she took on role in September)
Last year, the inspector general concluded the consistent turnover in NASA’s cybersecurity leadership was weakening the standard of protections.
Status Current
Tenure June 2017 – present
Predecessor Rob Klopp August 2015 – April 2017
Because of the SSA’s handling of mass PII, it uses multi-factor authentication controls to protect gateways to sensitive data. To maintain security practices, the administration also has mandatory training for in-house employees and contractors.
Status Acting
TenureDecember 2017 – present
Predecessor Frontis B. Wiggins III Nov. 2016 – Dec. 2017Steve Taylor April 2013 – July 2016
The Office of the Inspector General audited the DOS’ configuration control board (CCB) to find that the department resolved 15 of the 17 recommendations regarding its IT CCB , according the September 2017 report.
Status Current
Tenure October 2017 – present
PredecessorKristen Baldwin January 2017 – October 2017Richard McKinney May 2013 - January 2017
Before the DOT could migrate to Microsoft 365, the agency had to upgrade its network, particularly after it found 200 pieces of network gear on its systems that the agency was unaware of.
Status Acting
Tenure July 2017 – present
Predecessor Sonny BhagowaliaOctober 2014 – July 2017 (CIO repositioned in Bureau of Fiscal Service)
As of August 2016, the Treasury Department closed 65% of its 872 total reported data centers, according to a May 2017 GAO report.
Status Acting
TenureSeptember 2017 – present
Predecessor Rob Thomas, acting CIO January 2017 – October 2017 LaVerne Council July 2015 – January 2017
The VA is working to consolidate all its transaction-based web services serving the 11 million veterans that use the VA onto one portal at Vets.gov.
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Design: Jordan Branch and Natalie Forman/Industry Dive
