10 Things You Should Know About the Nation’s New Technology Czar

President Obama recently named the first ever Chief Technology Officer, or technology czar, in an effort to improve and encourage technology innovation for the purpose of promoting government transparency and data access, inciting efficiency and accuracy in healthcare IT, and an increasing the number and quality of technology resources available in education. Aneesh Chopra was selected as Obama’s CTO, and since he’ll be in charge of developing new technology policies that will ultimately change the way we operate socially and economically, here are 10 things about him that you should know.

1. He is the former Secretary of Technology for Virginia: Aneesh Chopra was chosen to be Obama’s new technology czar partly because of his experience in politics. As the former Secretary of Technology for the state of Virginia, Chopra has implemented many new technology programs for the purpose of making government more efficient, helping education and the health care industries become more cutting-edge and accurate, and supporting technology innovation in general. While other candidates for the federal position had experience in the private sector, Chopra’s government background positioned him as a more unique nominee.
2. He will be responsible for minimizing errors in medical IT: As Chief Technology Officer for the federal government, Chopra will be responsible for designing and implementing a number of changes in how technology is used in government, education and health care. His principal goal in health care is to minimize mistakes in data management and providing care, while "reducing administrative costs…using health IT," according to Tim O’Reilly of the O’Reilly Radar.
3. Chopra is also responsible for inspiring innovation in education technology: Education innovation is also on the short list for Obama, and Chopra will have to generate programs that encourage research and technology development, especially in education. Finding cost-effective strategies and solutions for providing schools with access to leading edge technology systems will be a challenge, but Chopra has already experimented with open source initiatives and other programs to boost productivity, innovation and technology responsibility.
4. He has no ties to Silicon Valley: Some technology leaders from Silicon Valley, the unofficial capital for technology innovation and profit in the U.S., are miffed that Obama did not choose a CTO from their circle. But Chopra’s experience in government should give him an edge when dealing with policy making, assimilating into the unique structure of government, and compromising on funding issues, according to O’Reilly.
5. Virginia was ranked #1 in technology management, under Chopra’s leadership: In 2008, Virginia was ranked in the top spot for information security and technology management, by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, reports GovTech.com. Under Aneesh Chopra’s leadership, Virginia was praised by Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine for innovation in a "public-private partnership to transform…IT infrastructure." The state was awarded a $1.9 billion grant to pursue the partnership and improve government efficiency, through technology innovation.
6. Chopra is expected to help define technology policy: Besides developing plans to encourage research and make government and health care systems more efficient, Chopra will also contribute to setting up new technology policies. Ars Technica reports that Chopra will hold the "outward-facing" position in the department, inspiring government transparency but also developing "U.S. technology and innovation policy." He will be the go-between for government agencies involved in policy making and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which does not directly answer to the government, as well as for the public.These policies are expected to help define the future of national, economic and social operations by supporting entrepreneurial pursuits, research and the private sector.
7. Virginia published the first officially-approved open source textbook in the country: A testament to his devotion to trying out new technology systems in education, Chopra helped Virginia become the first state to publish the first officially-approved open source textbook. The Physics FlexBook is a searchable book that includes appropriate physics material for grades K-12 and is described as "a collaborative effort to elevate the quality of physics instruction across the Commonwealth." It was designed to be used as a supplement to traditional physics instruction and to explore the potential for open source learning.
8. He has experience with using technology to make government more open and effective: Besides promoting open education avenues, Chopra is committed to developing a more democratic, transparent relation between the public and the government, through technology. His technology initiatives will improve access to government data and records and, as Obama explained, "give all Americans a voice in their government and ensure that they know exactly how we’re spending their money." When the economic stimulus package was first passed, Chopra and his team in Virginia quickly developed a plan to track how that money would be spent, according to techPresident.
9. He has experience working in health care IT: Many in the technology sector and in government believe that Chopra is well-qualifed to improve healthcare IT because he already has extensive experience in the area. He was the co-chair on the Virginia Healthcare IT Council and received an award from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society in 2007. Before working for the state of Virginia, Chopra worked as Managing Director for the healthcare think tank Advisory Board Company.
10. Top 25: Chopra was recently included in Government Technology magazine’s list of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers, an issues "which recognizes the 25 individuals they believe help set the standard for using technology to improve government," according to Virginia.gov.

President Obama recently named the first ever Chief Technology Officer, or technology czar, in an effort to improve and encourage technology innovation for the purpose of promoting government transparency and data access, inciting efficiency and accuracy in healthcare IT, and an increasing the number and quality of technology resources available in education. Aneesh Chopra was selected as Obama’s CTO, and since he’ll be in charge of developing new technology policies that will ultimately change the way we operate socially and economically, here are 10 things about him that you should know.

1. He is the former Secretary of Technology for Virginia: Aneesh Chopra was chosen to be Obama’s new technology czar partly because of his experience in politics. As the former Secretary of Technology for the state of Virginia, Chopra has implemented many new technology programs for the purpose of making government more efficient, helping education and the health care industries become more cutting-edge and accurate, and supporting technology innovation in general. While other candidates for the federal position had experience in the private sector, Chopra’s government background positioned him as a more unique nominee.
2. He will be responsible for minimizing errors in medical IT: As Chief Technology Officer for the federal government, Chopra will be responsible for designing and implementing a number of changes in how technology is used in government, education and health care. His principal goal in health care is to minimize mistakes in data management and providing care, while "reducing administrative costs…using health IT," according to Tim O’Reilly of the O’Reilly Radar.
3. Chopra is also responsible for inspiring innovation in education technology: Education innovation is also on the short list for Obama, and Chopra will have to generate programs that encourage research and technology development, especially in education. Finding cost-effective strategies and solutions for providing schools with access to leading edge technology systems will be a challenge, but Chopra has already experimented with open source initiatives and other programs to boost productivity, innovation and technology responsibility.
4. He has no ties to Silicon Valley: Some technology leaders from Silicon Valley, the unofficial capital for technology innovation and profit in the U.S., are miffed that Obama did not choose a CTO from their circle. But Chopra’s experience in government should give him an edge when dealing with policy making, assimilating into the unique structure of government, and compromising on funding issues, according to O’Reilly.
5. Virginia was ranked #1 in technology management, under Chopra’s leadership: In 2008, Virginia was ranked in the top spot for information security and technology management, by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, reports GovTech.com. Under Aneesh Chopra’s leadership, Virginia was praised by Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine for innovation in a "public-private partnership to transform…IT infrastructure." The state was awarded a $1.9 billion grant to pursue the partnership and improve government efficiency, through technology innovation.
6. Chopra is expected to help define technology policy: Besides developing plans to encourage research and make government and health care systems more efficient, Chopra will also contribute to setting up new technology policies. Ars Technica reports that Chopra will hold the "outward-facing" position in the department, inspiring government transparency but also developing "U.S. technology and innovation policy." He will be the go-between for government agencies involved in policy making and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which does not directly answer to the government, as well as for the public.These policies are expected to help define the future of national, economic and social operations by supporting entrepreneurial pursuits, research and the private sector.
7. Virginia published the first officially-approved open source textbook in the country: A testament to his devotion to trying out new technology systems in education, Chopra helped Virginia become the first state to publish the first officially-approved open source textbook. The Physics FlexBook is a searchable book that includes appropriate physics material for grades K-12 and is described as "a collaborative effort to elevate the quality of physics instruction across the Commonwealth." It was designed to be used as a supplement to traditional physics instruction and to explore the potential for open source learning.
8. He has experience with using technology to make government more open and effective: Besides promoting open education avenues, Chopra is committed to developing a more democratic, transparent relation between the public and the government, through technology. His technology initiatives will improve access to government data and records and, as Obama explained, "give all Americans a voice in their government and ensure that they know exactly how we’re spending their money." When the economic stimulus package was first passed, Chopra and his team in Virginia quickly developed a plan to track how that money would be spent, according to techPresident.
9. He has experience working in health care IT: Many in the technology sector and in government believe that Chopra is well-qualifed to improve healthcare IT because he already has extensive experience in the area. He was the co-chair on the Virginia Healthcare IT Council and received an award from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society in 2007. Before working for the state of Virginia, Chopra worked as Managing Director for the healthcare think tank Advisory Board Company.
10. Top 25: Chopra was recently included in Government Technology magazine’s list of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers, an issues "which recognizes the 25 individuals they believe help set the standard for using technology to improve government," according to Virginia.gov.