Leadership
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OpenAI hones public sector focus with new leadership hires
In addition to hiring former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, the frontier AI firm brought on several new executives in October, including alums from Oracle and Amazon Web Services.
Former banking executive named GSA acquisition lead
The Federal Acquisition Service has been headed by an acting commissioner since April.
DHS secretary plans post-election security review
Markwayne Mullin told CISA employees he wants to assess election systems after the vote, as the agency faces scrutiny over cuts to its support for states.
Former Transportation CIO most proud of creating ‘momentum for change’
Pavan Pidugu resigned his position as the Transportation Department’s chief information officer on Sept. 4.
Experts hope new AI czar’s leadership can move the needle on regulation
“Maybe [the AI czar] can work with Congress to help come up with some governance, some laws” covering AI, one former Trump official told Nextgov/FCW.
Spy chief Jay Clayton takes on White House’s AI portfolio
A new task force led by the director of national intelligence will have 120 days to analyze and report on AI’s risks and opportunities, amid growing global calls for AI safety measures.
Updated
GSA’s deputy administrator to depart government
Michael Lynch joined the General Services Administration in January 2025 as a senior advisor and later became the agency’s deputy administrator.
GSA’s web design system head replaced with Treasury AI engineer
The U.S. Web Design System is intended to help the federal government build accessible and mobile-friendly websites.
NGA official assumes top AI role at Cyber Command
Ronzelle Green steps into the chief artificial intelligence officer role previously held by Reid Novotny, who worked to expand the combatant command’s embrace of new AI capabilities regardless of their origins.
NSA plans major reorganization with new AI, China and cyber centers
The overhaul would create five mission centers, with implementation expected to begin in October.
Agriculture CIO transitions to role modernizing farmers’ records
USDA CIO Sam Berry will help implement the agency’s One Farmer, One File effort to create streamlined internal records for farmers.
‘We have to throw technology at the cyber problem,’ Pentagon CIO says
Defense Department Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies said the Pentagon has to focus on “leveraging the fantastically skilled people that we have in a much more effective way.”
Trump is staffing up agencies with political appointees. They’re not sticking around, new analysis finds
The Partnership for Public Service previously reported on high turnover among Senate-confirmed political appointees during the president’s second term. In a new report, researchers from the nonprofit find a similar trend with non-Senate-confirmed ones.
TMF will have $200M to spend next year without appropriations, official says
The federal government plans to announce new projects receiving modernization dollars at the end of next month, ahead of a possible expiration for the fund.
GSA to reinstate FedRAMP director, taps Treasury CIO for 3 roles
The General Services Administration is seeing a string of personnel changes leading up to the federal chief information officer’s departure from government at the end of the month.
Senate confirms Adam Cassady to run State Department cyberspace bureau
The confirmation comes as the tech diplomacy shop he would traditionally lead in his new role has seen significant reorganizations in the last year.
National Institutes of Health names Maureen Falvella as permanent CIO
She served as acting CIO for roughly 10 months before moving into the role officially.
Greg Barbaccia to return to Palantir after leaving government
The federal CIO’s departure comes after a turbulent period for the federal technology workforce where thousands of technologists left the government.
Senate confirms Clayton as Trump’s next intelligence director
The former SEC chairman will replace acting intelligence chief Bill Pulte, whose brief tenure oversaw repeated personnel cuts to the nation’s top spy office.
Pulte announces 30% ODNI staff reduction hours before Clayton vote
The acting intelligence chief said a fifth and “near final” round of terminations was underway Tuesday but did not disclose how many employees were affected.
