The USDA Secretary's Memorandum 1030-30 established the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). The CIO is independent of any other office or agency of the Department. The CIO reports directly to the Secretary and has primary responsibility, under the Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA) of 1996, for supervision and coordination within the Department of the design, acquisition, maintenance, use and disposal of information technology by USDA agencies, for monitoring the performance of USDA's information technology programs and activities, and for assuring that USDA information management is consistent with the principles of the Paperwork Reduction Act and with information security and privacy requirements. The CIO consults with the Department's Chief Financial Officer to assure that the USDA's information technology programs and activities are carried out in a cost-effective manner, and that financial and related program information is reliable, consistent, and timely. The CIO also deals with top level officials in the Office of Management and Budget, other federal agencies, and appears to testify before Congressional committees.

e-Government

The USDA eGovernment Program includes interactions and relationships between government and citizens, government and public and private entities, and government and employees. It is the exchange of value, including services, programs, and information, through an electronic medium. Making "USDA, electronically available any place, any time" requires building upon and integrating our current eGovernment successes. To help with this transformation, we have an interagency eGovernment Team working to assimilate our current activities with emerging business practices.

Enterprise IT Solutions

The National Information Technology Center (NITC) is part of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The mission of NITC is to provide reliable and cost- effective Information Technology Solutions to achieve effective mission performance and program delivery for the USDA, its agencies, and other clients.

Information and Technology Management

The ITM analyzes the impact of government-wide information management trends and develops appropriate USDA principles, policies, and standards. It engages in strategic information management planning; and, evaluates programs to ensure USDA-wide compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations for the Secretary and general officers of the Department.

IT Security

The IT Security Program overall goal is to solve problems and improve the security infrastructure at USDA nationally and globally according to laws, policies, and procedures.

Service Center Modernization Oversite

The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 gave authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to reorganize the Department, including both headquarters and field structures. The USDA Service Center concept is one cornerstone of the organization effort. By consolidating individual agency field offices into service centers, USDA has reduced its total number of offices, provided more efficient service to its customers, and done so at a reduced cost to taxpayers.

Telecommunications Services
& Operations

Telecommunications Services and Operations is responsible for implementing, managing, and maintaining USDA Telecommunications Programs (Telecom) through the development, management, and implementation of Department wide telecommunications services and operations; for providing Department-wide telecommunications services and operations which facilitate the migration of existing USDA agencies' networks to a USDA corporate Enterprise Network; for leading the Department's effort to improve telecommunications services and reduce costs by evaluating and improving USDA telecommunication processes; and for implementing, managing, and maintaining USDA Telecommunications Network Security Program in concert with the USDA Information Technology Security Program through the development, management, and implementation of Department-wide network security services and operations. John Donovan is the Associate Chief Information Officer (Acting) for the Telecommunications Services and Operations Division.

http://www.ocio.usda.gov/cpic/aboutocio.html
Last Modified: 04/03/2008