During the past year, The DotGov Buzz has showcased a variety of talented officials, some of whom will rotate out of office within about a year, and others who will continue working from within to leverage IT and improve government. They include political appointees and career civil servants, men and women, individuals and teams, CIOs and others. They work for national and state governments, in the United States and abroad. They have all used e-government to effect a broad transformation in how services are delivered to citizens.

It is an impressive, if diverse, roster:

• Two very effective national CIOs have forever changed the quality of government service delivery in their countries.
• Two other individuals and a team have had a significant impact on the national scene by operating across boundaries to make government more flexible and responsive to citizens.
• Four of the spotlights illuminated federal CIOs who are transforming small agencies, large departments, and components of large departments into citizen-centric organizations.
• And, not least, two of the many forward-thinking state IT leaders who have found ways to use IT to take the lead in innovation, bringing the benefits of the global economy and environmental consciousness to their states...

These 11 senior leaders exemplify the visionary IT professionals who are making government work for citizens. Their accomplishments still shine at the end of the year.

Karen Evans, OMB's Administrator of E-Government and IT, has made her mark as the U.S. government's national CIO since 2003. She's seen the "graduation" of the presidential e-government initiatives, implementation of nine Lines of Business consolidation efforts, unprecedented efforts to ensure transparency in government, and the start of a coordinated federal adoption of the IPv6 Internet protocol. As she enters the final months of her tenure as the nation's -and, arguably, the world's - most influential public-sector IT official she sees real progress in using IT to create a citizen-centered government.

Ken Cochrane, CIO of the Government of Canada, hopes to build a model for how the effective management of internal government systems can lead to increased trust in government and enhanced appreciation for the role of the public servant. "There is a relationship between the internal and external workings of government," he says. "If you don't modernize the back office systems, employees can't deliver the level of services that citizens want." He doesn't have much time: his government appointment through the Interchange Canada program is limited by law, and he must leave office by the end of 2008.

Martha A. Dorris, Deputy Associate Administrator for the GSA Office of Citizen Services, is a power player in the e-government world, with an official designation as such. Federal Computer Week, which identified 10 key power players in government IT praised her tenure as President of the American Council for Technology, for offering "a model of how government and industry can work together, particularly at a time when partnerships often exist in name only." Concurrently, as chair of the International Council for IT in Government Administration, she has extended her reach across the global IT community. Her ability to inspire others to work across boundaries was honored this month when her office won the prestigious President's Quality Award for Management Excellence.

Led by Beverly Godwin and John R. Murphy, the team that runs USA.gov, the official web portal of the U.S. government, and its Spanish-language counterpart, GobiernoUSA.gov, had a busy year. It changed the names of its web portals and saw public awareness quadruple, increased the power of their search engine to reach into 50 million federal, state and local government pages, and created the first national government blog. In June, USA.gov was named to Time's list of "25 Sites We Can't Live Without."

Chris S. Niedermayer, Associate CIO for Information and Technology Management at the Department of Agriculture, became president of the Association of Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM) and brought his leadership skills to the cross-government IT community. It wasn't the first time. He had chaired the cross-agency E-Authentication Executive Steering Committee from 2004 until 2007 and championed the government's implementation of HSPD-12 in all departments. He continues to use his position as AFFIRM president to spread the word about the benefits of collaborating across government.

Dan Mintz, CIO of the U.S. Department of Transportation, understands that his job as a political appointee has a definite end when a new administration takes over in January 2009. He knew it was not the most secure position for a man with two daughters in college (one has since graduated). However, he says, the role of the political CIO is "really interesting. It has the advantage of being able to look upward to the political leadership of the organization, though you have difficulty reaching down, and you have to work especially hard to get people to buy into your goals."

Zal Azmi, CIO of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is helping to transform a culture not known for information-sharing into a more agile organization better equipped to confront the threats of a post-9/11 world. By modernizing IT systems and enabling users to share information no matter where they are located, the FBI has strengthened lines of communication between the bureau and its federal, state, local, and international partners in law enforcement and the intelligence community.

Stephen W. Warren, a DotGov spotlight when he was CIO of the Federal Trade Commission and co-chair of the Small Agency CIO Council, was especially proud of his agency's swift actions in creating the first "Do Not Call Registry" within 100 days after funding was available. "We wanted to show that we could deliver in Internet time - that it doesn't take many, many, many years for government to get a request and turn it into a service." In May he joined the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology.

Ed Anderson, CIO of the Peace Corps, was honored this year as one of eWEEK magazine's Top 100 CIOs—from both the private and public sectors. Since coming to the agency in 2003, he has met unusual challenges like providing computer and Internet access through satellite-based technology to overseas posts that had limited or no telecommunications infrastructure, and adapting 21st century technology to a third world environment. But that was only one of the major challenges he overcame. Formerly a private-sector executive, he is still challenged to understand federal procurement guidelines and how to manage budgets and staff in a federal agency.

Aneesh P. Chopra, Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia, is dedicated to making the state a power player in the global economy by supporting opportunities for globalization. He is sensitive to "what's happening to e-governance around the world that can be imported to help us," and poised to help find ways to benefit the state. "We should look to global markets for scale and bring it back to Virginia for marginal costs," he said. A successful Indian-American entrepreneur and executive before joining government at age 33, he was well-received when he led a Virginia trade delegation to India in 2006.

Dugan Petty, Oregon's CIO, created the first state Sustainable Supplier Council in 2001. A team of industry representatives, environmental experts, and state purchasing officials it examined ways to change the state's purchasing process to yield a more sustainable ecological footprint. The recommendations of the council helped change the contract specifications for various products Oregon buys. "Everyday in government we make decisions that have an impact and consequences for the citizens we serve. We should always be asking the question, 'What's the energy consumption and can we reduce it?'"

Next year's DotGov Spotlights will impress with their own notable accomplishments. Molly O'Neill, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Environmental Information and CIO of the Environmental Protection Agency, leads off 2008 with a burst of energy and a commitment to use advanced technology to enhance EPA's mission-critical work. During a recent EPA Symposium she launched an exercise in collaborative technology that produced 175 contributions of ideas, data, and applications, and more than 18,000 viewed pages. More importantly, it is helping the people in Washington State in their efforts to restore a healthy ecosystem to Puget Sound. Stay tuned. This is only the beginning.

GSA selected 62 firms to receive awards under the $15 billion Alliant Small Business contract December 17. It is the first small business set-aside Governmentwide Acquisition Contract awarded by GSA.

The small business contract is part of the $50 billion Alliant contract GSA awarded to 29 large firms in July that has been under challenge since September, awaiting the outcome of a protest filed by several companies.

The small business GWAC provides streamlined access to a broad range of management and technical support services that enable complex IT solutions to be acquired under a pre-competed multiple-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. The contract has a five-year base period with one five-year option.

Seeking to tighten security for the U.S. government's websites, OMB has directed agencies to reduce the number of Internet connections for the government from more than 1,000 to 50.

Agencies have until January 8 to send initial plans of action and milestones regarding the reduction of Internet connections, to the Department of Homeland Security's National Cyber Security Division, for review.

The plans of actions are called for in a November 20 memo that seeks to reduce the number of governmentwide Internet connections to 50 by June 2008.

Clay Johnson, OMB Deputy Director for Management, also states in the memo that the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team's role will be enhanced to improve the government's response capabilities.

The comprehensive plans of action and milestones are due in June 2008.

Karen Evans, OMB Administrator of E-Government and IT, told Congress the presidential E-Gov initiatives have provided a more citizen-centered approach to the delivery of government services so the public can actively participate in how services are delivered. During fiscal year 2007, "USA.gov achieved an incredible 97 million visits or 1.87 million visits per week," Evans said. The CIO Council will play a key role in the future in promoting and working to implement the next generation of E-Government services.

She testified to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee December 11, along with officials from Google, Wikipedia, and the Center for Democracy and Technology who want to make government information more accessible to popular Internet search engines.

They called for government systems administrators to properly index their websites; seek new ways of using technology to effectively collaborate with the public (like Intellipedia); and make government information online more accessible to commercial search engines, the most popular means of finding government information.

The Center for Democracy and Technology and OMB Watch released Hiding in Plain Sight: Why Important Government Information Cannot Be Found Through Commercial Search Engines on December 11. It highlights the types of government information that are not available through search engines and why.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, (ID-CT) also introduced a resolution, S. RES. 401, to make the Congressional Research Service reports more accessible to the public. The resolution was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

The E-Government Reauthorization Act of 2007 which would extend the E-Gov Act until 2012 is awaiting a Senate vote.

In a report issued in November the Congressional Research Service urged Congress to explore policies to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities at federal agencies, citing a perceived lack of urgency.

The report Botnets, Cybercrime, and Cyberterrorism: Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues for Congress, calls on Congress to:

• Increase awareness about changing threats due to the growing technical skills of extremists and terrorist groups.
• Develop more accurate methods for measuring the effects of cybercrime.
• Help to determine appropriate responses by the Department of Defense to a cyberattack.
• Examine the incentives for achieving the goals of the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace.
• Search for ways to improve the security of commercial software products.
• Explore ways to increase security education and awareness for business and home PC users.
• Find ways for private industry and government to coordinate to protect against cyberattack.

The report also discusses the options available to extremists for obtaining malicious technical services from cybercriminals and the effects of a coordinated cyberattack against critical U.S. infrastructure.

OMB launched its new website USAspending.gov on December 13, more than two weeks before the congressionally mandated January 1 deadline. USAspending.gov is a free, searchable website of federal contracts and financial aid. It was created to meet the mandates of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 and is a re-launch of the former FederalSpending.gov site.

The site draws on data from the Federal Procurement Data System, which contains information about federal contracts, and the Federal Assistance Award Data System, which contains information about federal assistance such as grants, loans, insurance, and direct subsidies such as Social Security.

For each award, citizens can find:

• The name and entity receiving the award.
• The amount of the award.
• Information on the award including transaction type, funding agency, etc.
• The location of the entity receiving the award.
• A unique identifier of the entity receiving the award.

The Department of Homeland Security released grant guidance and application kits for two grant programs totaling more than $35 million to help states prepare to implement REAL ID provisions that require a standard format for state-issued driver's licenses.

The REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program will provide $31.3 million in grants to the states to check motor vehicle records in other states to ensure drivers don't have multiple licenses, and to verify immigration status against federal records. It will help standardize methods by which states may seamlessly verify an applicant's information with another state and deploy verification capabilities that can be used by all states, while protecting personal identification information.

Grant proposals should demonstrate how other states would be able to use, modify, or transfer a personal identification verification system or established architecture that is designed and developed through federal funding.

The REAL ID Vital Events Verification State Project Grant will provide $4 million to help verify birth certificates and other vital records. It will support and expand the pilot program conducted in Kentucky in 2006 by allowing other states to acquire and benefit from software that verifies birth record information for REAL ID purposes.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found officials in dozens of state and local fusion centers had difficulty accessing and managing many federal information systems; obtaining and using security clearances; obtaining personnel and funding; and training personnel.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have made efforts to address these challenges, but the federal government has not articulated what long-term role it expects to play in sustaining these fusion centers, GAO reported. In Federal Efforts Are Helping to Alleviate Some Challenges Encountered by State and Local Information Fusion Centers, GAO recommends the federal government decide whether it expects to provide resources to help sustain the fusion centers.

Fusion centers are collaborative efforts, established by state and local governments, to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity.

OMB released an updated Enterprise Architecture Assessment Framework containing changes that streamline the assessment process and focus on developing agencies' Enterprise Architectures (EA). The Framework helps OMB and agencies assess the capability of EA programs to guide and inform strategic IT investments.

The major changes in version 2.2 include:

• New measurement criteria reflect recent updates to the FEA Practice Guidance.
• Ways to simplify agency preparations for their annual EA assessments.
• Detailed requirements for incorporating Federal Transition Framework products into agency architectures.
• Updated IPv6 Assessment Criteria reflecting current compliance requirements as described in OMB Memo 5-22.
• An updated assessment scoring algorithm requiring agencies to score at least an average of 4 in all three capability areas (Completion, Use, and Results) to get a green rating.
• A simplified process of submitting evidence of EA maturity.

OMB has established a Performance Improvement Council, as called for in Executive Order 13450, comprised of Performance Improvement Officers for each agency. Clay Johnson, OMB Deputy Director for Management in a December 7 memo, set the inaugural meeting for January 9.

Performance Improvement Officers will be responsible for coordinating agency activities, including:

• Developing and improving the agency's strategic plans, and annual performance plans, performance reports, and budget justifications.
• Ensuring program goals are aggressive, realistic, and accurately measured.
• Regularly convening agency program managers to assess and improve program performance and efficiency.
• Use of performance measures to ensure real accountability.

The Performance Improvement Council will establish program performance standards and evaluation criteria, exchange information among agencies, coordinate and monitor performance assessments, keep the public informed, obtain information and advice from stakeholders, and make policy recommendations.

The Federal-State Joint Board of the Federal Communications Commission wants to increase broadband access in rural and high-cost areas by splitting the $7 billion Universal Service Fund into three pools of money. The three pools would be used for: high-speed networks (to which $300 million is allocated), wireless services, and traditional telephone service.

The Broadband Fund would be given to the states for distribution to finance network construction or the operations of broadband providers.

The FCC has until November 20, 2008, to approve the plan.

President's Quality Award. Six federal agencies received the 2007 President's Quality Award for Management Excellence December 3. Administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, it is the highest award given to executive branch agencies for management excellence.

The winning agencies and categories were:

• Overall Management :
- Environmental Protection Agency
• Agencywide Performance in the Governmentwide Management Initiative:
- General Services Administration
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Agriculture
• Innovative and Exemplary Practices:
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Housing and Urban Development

Premier 100 IT Leaders. Twelve government IT officials were among the 2008 Premier 100 IT Leaders selected by Computerworld magazine.

This year's 100 leaders were selected from more than 1,000 nominees for understanding business needs and profit/loss responsibilities beyond the IT department; developing leadership skills inside the IT organization; and identifying strategic opportunities provided by IT.

The 12 government leaders are:

• Ben L. Berry, CIO, Oregon Department of Transportation
• Brenda L. Decker, CIO, State of Nebraska
• Don C. DeLoach, Chief Information Systems Officer, City of Tallahassee
• Sheng Guo, Chief Technology Officer, New York State Unified Court System
• Randall D. Headrick, Director of Communications and Information, Air National Guard CIO, National Guard Bureau A6, Andrews Air Force Base
• Charles Scott Lambert, U.S. Army, Fort Monmouth, N.J.
• Hugh Miller, Chief Technology Officer, City of San Antonio
• Ram Murthy, Director of Application Systems, Peace Corps, Washington
• Neal A. Puff, CIO, Yuma County, Arizona
• Steven J. Spano, Director of Communications and Information Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Germany
• Teri M. Takai, CIO of Michigan Department of IT, State of Michigan
• Craig Woods, Manager of Technology Support, U.S. Postal Service, Washington

Also available in pdf 374 kb

Collaborative Expedition Workshop: Transcending Boundaries for Effective Records Management
Arlington, VA
January 29

Collaborative Expedition Workshop: Using Business Narratives for High Performance and Innovation
Arlington, VA
February 19

AFCEA Homeland Security Conference 2008
Washington, DC
February 27-28

Collaborative Expedition Workshop: Broadening Public Participation: Toward Stakeholder-Centered Science and Services in the Public Realm
Arlington, VA
March 18

ACT/IAC 2008 Technology Leadership Conference (formerly Western Conference)
San Diego, CA
March 25-27

FOSE 2008
Washington, DC
April 1-3

IRMCO 2008
Cambridge, MD
April 13-16

GSA Expo
Anaheim, CA
April 22-24

Government Web Managers 2-Day Conference & Best Practice Awards Ceremony
Arlington, VA
May 5-6

ACT/IAC Management of Change Conference
Norfolk, VA
June 8-10

GEIA Vision Conference
Springfield, VA
October 22-23

Executive Leadership Conference
Williamsburg, VA
October 26-28

Comments: We welcome your feedback.

Please send your comments, concerns, complaints and questions to dotgovbuzz@gsa.gov.

Check out our previous editions at www.usa.gov/dotgovbuzz.html.

The DotGov Buzz is produced by the following individuals in the GSA Office of Citizen Services and Communications: Darlene Meskell Andrea Noce Anne Hartzell Bryant Jones We wish you happy holidays and all the best in 2008!