50 Most Influential Government CIOs
June 07, 2011 07:00 AM Check out InformationWeek's Government CIO 50, our power list of top government CIOs--ranging from the NSA's technology chief to innovators at the state and city government level. They've got vision, clout, and sometimes, billion-dollar IT budgets. But most of all, these CIOs are known for delivering tangible, measurable results. Here's an inside look at the government technology leaders and their approaches to unique IT leadership challenges.
Bill Oates, CIO, City of Boston
Boston CIO Bill Oates is notable among big city CIOs for his focus on innovation and improving municipal performance. Oates has been a tireless advocate of making broadband more accessible in Beantown, through an application to be part of the Google Fiber municipal broadband project and continued expansion of the city's own fiber network, as well as the opening of 48 computing centers. Boston has become a leader in sustainability, investing in green efforts like virtualization, power management, an online map of citywide solar energy installations, e-waste recycling, and paperless services.
Under the umbrella of open government, Boston has made service request data available online and developed a mobile app called Citizens Connect. The city's list of other IT projects includes new library systems, a citywide student ID card, a new police lab system to track forensic evidence, citywide asset management, a PeopleSoft upgrade, and a transition to VoIP. Oates worked for years in the private sector, including as CIO for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.
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