Meet the CIOs: Agriculture

ANNE REED
Agriculture Department
14th & Independence Avenue S.W. #414W
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone: 202-720-8833
Fax: 202-720-1031
E-mail: areed@usda.gov

Career Highlights:

1993-Present: Deputy assistant secretary for administration, USDA
1981-93: Various Navy posts, including deputy director of budget and management policy in the Office of Comptroller, Navy Secretariat

IT Budget (fiscal years):
1996: $1.17 billion
1997: $1.31 billion (est.)
1998: not available

Priority Projects:

• Restructuring IT Decisionmaking - laying foundation for an executive-level information technology investment review board.
• Departmentwide IT Architecture - providing framework for common systems and improved communications.
• Year 2000 - fixing six-digit date fields in computer programs.

Biggest Challenges:

"Strengthening our IT management infrastructure to ensure that investment decisions are made from a corporate perspective and that they clearly support key mission responsibilities. At the same time, we want to be sure that our major investment projects are well managed and meeting their objectives."

Management Approach:

"We have made great strides in capital planning through establishment of an executive IT investment resources board, with membership at the subcabinet level. We will use the Capital Planning and Investment Control pilot program to further define the processes, guidelines and performance measures necessary for standard deployment."

Hottest Technologies:

"Imaging and voice-response technology have streamlined the way we deliver programs such as the Dedicated Loan Orientation Servicing System."