Return to Article: VA chief opposes making CIO an undersecretary

By Daniel Pulliam dpulliam@govexec.com July 20, 2006
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    Thank you Secretary Nicholson. Finally someone is willing to point out that the IT "king has no clothes." As a veteran and VA employee I am concerned about IT security; however, VA's mission is serving the veteran -- benefits, healthcare, and burial. IT, like acquisition and human resources, is a staff function, yet there is no outcry for an undersecretary for acquisitions or HR. All staff functions cry the Rodney Dangerfield "I get no respect" mantra, yet it up to the leadership to support these important staff functions.

    The purpose of staff functions is to be the subject matter experts, diligently perform their regulatory functions, and by keeping VA's leadership informed, thereby vicariously supporting the mission of the VA. At the pointy end of the VA spear are the doctors, nurses, technicians, benefits clerks, food service workers, and many others that interact on a daily basis with our veterans. IT, acquisition, HR, and many other important staff functions are vital, but are not the pointy end.

    As the secretary said, "The title you give someone, that's not going to fix anything. Underlying all of this is leadership, commitment and sound management..." Positions are given, leadership is earned. It is a cultural change -- thank you Secretary Nicholson.

    J. Norton Phillips Posted July 21, 2006 9:46 AM

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VA chief opposes making CIO an undersecretary
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