WASHINGTON – Bob Howard, a retired Army major general, was recently sworn in as the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“VA will become the gold standard in government for securing information, and Bob Howard has the technical expertise and managerial skill to help us achieve that objective,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson.
Bob Howard (center) is sworn in by Secretary Nicholson as wife Ciretta Howard (right) holds the family Bible.
Howard, a native of Everett, Mass., was confirmed by the Senate on Sept. 30. In his new position, he serves as the department’s Chief Information Officer, advising Nicholson on matters related to information and cyber security, including the centralization of information technology within the Department.
Howard joined VA in May 2005 as senior advisor to the Deputy Secretary, concentrating on business operations and became the supervisor of the Office of Information Technology in May 2006.
Before coming to VA, Howard spent 33 years with the U.S. Army. After retiring, he was employed for nine years by the Cubic Corporation, a defense applications and public transportation systems contractor, as vice president and general manager directing programs that supported U.S. and foreign governments. A major focus of the work was assisting former Communist states with defense modernization.
The Army veteran served in a variety of command and staff assignments in Asia, Europe and the United States, with two tours of duty in Vietnam. He commanded airborne engineer units in the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps and also held positions focusing on systems analysis, strategic planning and financial management. In his last assignment, he was the Army’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget.
Howard has been an assistant professor of mathematics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a professorial lecturer at the AmericanUniversity in Washington, D.C. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from NortheasternUniversity in Boston, a master’s degree in civil engineering from TexasA&MUniversity and a master’s degree in military art and science from the Army Command and General Staff College. He is also a graduate of the NationalWarCollege.
He and his wife Ciretta live in Springfield, Va. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.
