Obama will be naming Aneesh Paul Chopra as his choice as the first CTO for the nation during tomorrow’s weekly address, as confirmed in this press release posted to the White House’s official web site and reported on Tech Crunch. Chopra serves as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, and previously worked as Managing Director with the Advisory Board Company, leading the firm’s Financial Leadership Council and the Working Council for Health Plan Executives.
Chopra was recognized by Government Technology Magazine for excellent ‘use of technology to improve government’, and he was awarded Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s 2007 State Leadership Advocacy Award.
Chopra’s priorities are to, “promote technological innovation to help achieve our most urgent priorities – from creating jobs and reducing health care costs to keeping our nation secure.” The focus on health care is fitting given the funding in the stimulus plan to digitize medical records. Chopra and Vivek Kundra, the first CIO, have known each other for some time.
Obama is also announcing Jeffrey Zients, a leading CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur, to serve as Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget and as the first ever Chief Performance Officer. Zients will work to streamline processes, cut costs, and find best practices throughout our government.
