Obama has named VA Secretary of Technology the nation’s CTO.

President Obama has named Aneesh Chopra the U.S. Chief Technology Advisor. Aneesh is (or, rather, was) Gov. Kaine’s CTO, and I worked with him on a project earlier this year. I’d hoped to work with him on many more in the months ahead, but if that’s not going to happen, this is certainly a really great reason why. He’s not a technologist, but he’s the next best thing—a guy who works with bright people, with a serious commitment to open government, who is willing to try new things, fail fast, and iterate through improved development based on those lessons. Here’s hoping we end up with somebody who is more than a placeholder to act as the state’s CTO between now and January.

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »

4 replies on “Obama has named VA Secretary of Technology the nation’s CTO.”

  1. Nobody, I hope. :) The job of CTO / Sec. Tech. is heavily about policy, and not much involved with technology itself, which is an arena in which I have little experience. My enthusiasm probably outpaces my actual ability to do the job. Something like Asst. Sec. Tech. I could probably manage with a less disastrous outcome. ;) OTOH, how badly could things be screwed up between now and January? (I kid!)

  2. “[He] is willing to try new things, fail fast, and iterate through improved development based on those lessons.”

    Agile development meets government. Should be an interesting mix. :)

  3. I worked with him on a project earlier this year…. he’s the next best thing—a guy who works with bright people

    If you do say so yourself. ;-)

    Just messing with you. You’re right about him… it’s a great choice.

Comments are closed.