White House Names Federal CIO

President Barack Obama on Thursday named Vivek Kundra, currently the chief technology officer for Washington, D.C., to the newly created White House role of federal chief information officer.

That's not the same as the position of national chief technology officer, which Obama has yet to announce, and who when named is expected to work hand in hand with Kundra. (Kundra was himself an oft-mentioned possibility for the CTO job.)

Kundra's CIO role, according to the Washington Post, will be to oversee all federal technology spending and also manage how government agencies purchase and use IT.

He'll have budget authority, the Post's sources confirmed, to either launch new systems in government or cut the cord on projects he doesn't view as essential. He's also the go-to guy for agency networks and systems and how they share information in a secure environment.

"Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position," said the president in a statement from the White House. "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 chief information officer, he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open and efficient way possible."

Kundra, who advised Obama's transition team in a technology capacity, managed technology projects and budgets for 86 agencies as Washington, D.C.,'s CTO. According to his biography, he also was assistant secretary of commerce and technology in Virginia under Gov. Timothy Kaine.

So there you have, it VARs -- while you've been forthcoming about what you want in a national CTO, maybe Kundra's the guy you really want to hear from.

Let us know at cberndtson@everythingchannel.com