A departmental spokesman says Purcell hasn't announced any career plans after her departure and that she hasn't had any discussions with the Bush administration about taking over another highly visible, vacant government IT post, that of administrator for E-government and IT at the White House Office of Management and Budget. That de facto federal CIO post was held by Mark Forman.
The Department of Information Resources, like many Texas government entities, is an independent agency. The department's board of directors will meet on Aug. 27 to discuss replacing Purcell. At that meeting, the board could name a permanent or interim CIO or decide to institute a search for a new IT leader, the spokesman says.
Among Purcell's main accomplishments during her term: championing TexasOnline.com, the state portal that delivers public services and information and saves taxpayers money; consolidating data services at a center in San Angelo; Y2K 2000 remediation; and establishing volume purchase pricing for IT goods and services.