Vivek Kundra will be president Barack Obama's CIO, the White House announced yesterday.
President Obama said Vivek Kundra would bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government.
"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 CIO, he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible," the president said.
Kundra will direct the policy and strategic planning of federal information technology investments and is responsible for oversight of federal technology spending.
Formerly CTO for Washington DC, Kundra is one of the US's top 25 CTOs. Last year he was named IT Executive of the Year for his pioneering work to drive transparency, engage citizens and lower the cost of government operations. He is also known for his leadership in public safety communications, cyber security and IT portfolio management, the White House said.