Obama’s CIO Pick Brings New Meaning to Term “Federal Googlement”
by John Paczkowski
Posted on March 5, 2009 at 9:06 AM PT
Vivek Kundra, chief technology officer for the District of Columbia, made headlines last year when he switched the District’s 38,000 employees from Microsoft Office to Google’s Web-based office suite. He may soon do the same to the White House as well, now that he’s been tapped as the nation’s first chief information officer.
Kundra, who has served as a technology policy adviser for President Obama, will oversee federal technology spending, among other things. “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,” Obama said in a statement. “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.”
If stories about Kundra’s enthusiasm for Google (GOOG) and Apple (AAPL) products are any indication, we can expect to see some big changes in the way federal technology spending is handled. “One of the biggest problems in government is that process has trumped outcome,” Kundra once said. “As everyone is focused on compliance, no one is thinking about innovation.”
Comments
Google not only pumped huge sums of money into the Obama presidential campaign last year but loaned them their CEO, Eric Schmidt, to perform arm twisting chores regarding other tech CEO support. It’s only fair that the Obama administration repay this gift. After all, it’s not their money.
Posted by Riley Petty at March 5th, 2009 at 12:09 pmWow! I don’t know how I missed the DC story.
I know a few years ago DC IT was a mess. Maybe I’d better check my “Rolodex”.
Anything that displaces the Microsoft monopoly within U.S., state, or local governments is a very good thing.
Posted by Mac Beach at March 5th, 2009 at 4:49 pmSo Google’s growing monopoly is better then a Microsoft one? Don’t be so blind.
Posted by Ivor Fazlic at March 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am