VA CIO Howard lands at FCI

Former VA CIO Robert Howard
I told you weeks ago that VA CIO Robert Howard was leaving. Well, as of Jan. 2, he left. Federal News Radio 1500 AM confirms that Howard landed a job at Femme Comp Inc. (FCI) as a senior vice president working on command and control and information technologies for the Defense Department, according to a VA spokesperson.
Stephen Warren, the principal deputy assistant secretary for information and technology, is the acting CIO.
Apparently Femme Comp Inc. is a small, women-owned company. I have left messages for Howard and I’m working to get him on Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris — part of our series of “exit interviews” — conversations with political appointees who are leaving. We’ll be talking to Transportation DepartmentCIO Dan Mintz on Friday; EPA CIO Molly O’Neill next Wednesday, and we’ll have others as I can get them scheduled.
I’m particularly interested in talking to Howard because his role as VA CIO — technically the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology — is unique in government. The VA CIO is the only one who, by law, has the power of the purse. No IT money gets spent without the approval of his office. It is a powerful tool, and it is being carefully watched.
Meanwhile, you can read Howard’s VA bio here.
[…] Howard took a senior vice president position at defense contractor Femme Comp Inc. in January 2009, before the report was released. Calls to FCI about his current employment status were not returned. Reached at home Friday, Howard refused to “discuss anybody’s personal issues.” […]
The Center for Public Integrity: Bush appointee allows VA employee to be overpaid $41,000 and commute to D.C. from Ark. | FierceReason.com
August 17, 2011 at 9:09 AM
[…] The Bush appointee and his subordinate left the VA during or shortly after the investigation. Howard took a senior vice president position at defense contractor Femme Comp Inc. in January 2009, before the report was released. Calls to FCI […]
The Center for Public Integrity: Bush appointee allows VA employee to be overpaid $41,000 and commute to D.C. from Ark. | Politimo - PoliticalParades.com
August 17, 2011 at 9:10 AM
[…] The Bush appointee and his subordinate left the VA during or shortly after the investigation. Howard took a senior vice president position at defense contractor Femme Comp Inc. in January 2009, before the report was released. Calls to FCI […]
The Center for Public Integrity: Bush appointee allows VA employee to be overpaid $41,000 and commute to D.C. from Ark.
August 17, 2011 at 9:11 AM
[…] Howard took a senior vice president position at defense contractor Femme Comp Inc. in January 2009, before the report was released. Calls to FCI about his current employment status were not returned. Reached at home Friday, Howard refused to “discuss anybody’s personal issues.” […]
The Center for Public Integrity: Bush Appointee Allows VA Employee to Be Overpaid $41,000 and Commute to D.C. From Ark. | Generall - Automated Untelligence News Service
August 17, 2011 at 10:07 AM