Obama taps former health care executive to become new CTO

Health and Human Services Department Chief Technology Officer Todd Park will be the next federal CTO, replacing Aneesh Chopra, the White House announced Friday.

Park made millions in healthcare technology before joining HHS in 2009. He initially was hired as the department's "entrepreneur in residence."

According to a June 2011 report in The Atlantic, Park, by age 24, had co-founded the health care technology company Athenahealth. "Nearly 10 years later he made a fortune when the company went public with a market capitalization exceeding $1 billion," the magazine reported. The Atlantic and Nextgov both are part of Atlantic Media.

"Todd Park has demonstrated a remarkable talent for enlisting innovative technologies to modernize government, reduce waste, and make government information more accessible to the public," President Obama said in a statement. "In his new position he will bring those skills to the entire federal enterprise, ensuring that government will serve all Americans fairly, effectively, and efficiently."

The statement went on to praise Park's work at HHS, including the launch of HealthCare.gov, a searchable inventory of health insurance plans available across the country.

Obama created the federal CTO position when he took office to demonstrate his administration's commitment to new technology and to better digital engagement with the public.

Chopra was Virginia's secretary of technology before coming to the White House. He left the post in February and is rumored to be considering a run for Virginia's lieutenant governorship.

The White House also announced Friday that Tom Power, currently deputy CTO for telecommunications, will be acting associate director of technology in the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Chopra previously held both posts. The OSTP office is looking for a permanent replacement for the deputy role, the White House said.