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During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama used technology to organize, communicate, and raise funds in innovative ways that gave him an advantage over opponents in both the primaries and the general election. It’s clear that Obama views tech as a powerful catalyst, and with the U.S. facing an unprecedented array of economic challenges, Obama will need to use technology to drive efficiency and institutional transformation.
As part of his policy platform, Obama has stated that he plans to hire the nation’s first chief technology officer (CTO) to play quarterback in driving these changes. A CTO is typically an organization’s top engineer and focuses on outward-facing technologies, but based on Obama’s policy statements he wants to use the national CTO position to:
Build a 21st century technology infrastructure
Unite and lead the CIOs and CTOs of various federal agencies
Architect innovative tech solutions to help solve big problems
As a result, Obama is going to need a visionary tech leader who can rally both technologists and standard Washington bureaucrats around a common purpose. It also wouldn’t hurt to bring in a big name — someone who already has a strong reputation that will translate into political capital.
The article lists 10 choices who are pretty damned good. Unsurprising, the #1 choice is Eric Schmidt who’s already declined in advance.
I would have gotten around to that. I promise you.
Shane Robison is the best on that list. He’ll probably tag Julius Genachowski.
From most of the candidates it looks like they are looking for a CIO not CTO.
Watch out for a FIT department (Federal Information Technology). They think they can do anything.
Anything.
Because every morning they awaken and tell themselves, “I’m IT.”
John C not on list WTF
How about Dean Kamen? Woz? Paul Allen?
Gates and Chambers are only reasonable choices on the list with experience and capability of doing things in tech’ on the large scale. Remaining people are educated but incapable…
Here’s a pretty good article which outlines the job.
#9 QB. Thanks.
“Just creating and implementing a coherent technology plan and policy for the numerous agencies under the Department of Homeland Security is an incredibly daunting task for a CTO.”
I talked with the DHS “CIO” a couple of times. He didn’t even have authority over the agencies within DHS. This post won’t be any different.
I’ve worked for both Chambers and Gates personally – no way…and how come no one is talking Meg?? Is it because she’s a woman?
Will we HAVE to call them the “Technology Czar”?
Does anyone remember what the Czars did to the Jews?
Are we over looking the OBVIOUS choice?
Mr. “Inventor the Internet” AL GORE! 🙂
Let’s hope no telecom chiefs sneak in there.
Not a bad article, as it didn’t go for the obvious: Gore, Fiorina, Woz. Gates won’t get it, because he doesn’t want the rich to be taxed (just ask his dad).
I say make Ms. Warrior the CTO, because “Secretary Warrior” would sound pretty cool.
That’s weird…I just added Shai to my Facebook friends.
John would be CPO – Chief Pundit Officer…more sorely needed than a CTO.
Lessig is already mentioned, but he probably wouldn’t want the job.
I’d suggest some real visionaries like John Gilmore (founder of the EFF and one of the co-founders of Sun), John Perry Barlowe, or Linus Torvalds.
Just for laughs, let’s throw Richard M. Stallman or Cory Doctorow’s names into the hat.
How about no CTO? Sounds like another government boondoggle.
Plus more efficiency puts people out of work.
I might form an opinion six months or more after the person takes the job.
Steve Jobs
# 18 MikeN said, “Plus more efficiency puts people out of work.”
Most people in gov’t jobs don’t produce anything meaningful anyway.
Interesting. The duty description actually implies that he is after some type of Strategic Architect. Which, would be a good idea. A CTO is an engineering role typically, and not sure that is what Obama meant. Either way, great to see any leader thinking about tech and it’s place in the modern society and world. Go Pres!