About the GCN IT Leadership Awards
Connecting state and local government leaders
GCN salutes 10 tech leaders whose inspiration, innovation and enthusiasm have brought projects to life.
The GCN IT Leadership Awards were created with the idea that the advancement of information technology in government begins with individuals who are as skilled at building enthusiasm as they are at building IT solutions.This year, as in years past, our call for nominations drew a remarkable array of nominating letters. Each made a case for how one candidate or another made a difference not only in the workings of government, but in the lives of the people around them.The 10 individuals we selected to honor this stood out for various reasons. Each tacked overwhelming challenges with vision, a can-do spirit and a certain prowess in harnessing technology. But each, in his or her way, also managed to inspire unusual support and solutions'often in the face of heavy resistance.Such is the story of U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Chris Kluckhuhn, who without a staff, a budget, or direct authority, succeeded in building what became a successful maritime safety and law enforcement system. Or the story of Larry Padgett, director of IT operations for the nation's 11th largest school system, whose willingness to buck the status quo put the Palm Beach County (Fla.) schools on the national map as model for rebuilding network and e-mail systems.Their stories, and the many others we received, paint a broader picture of how great leadership, regardless of position, is making a difference in government. Get to know the winners a little in this gatefold, and read their stories.The GCN Government IT Leadership Awards recognize government career workers whose exemplary record of performance and leadership has resulted in extraordinary accomplishments involving information technology in the service of government and who have inspired others to reach higher in their performance.Qualifying candidates must be full-time, career civil servants at the GS-13 through Senior Executive Service level, or equivalent military rank or job level in a state, county or municipal government. They also must have some involvement with information technology in the performance of their duties.A panel of judges, including current and former senior level government executives and the editors of GCN, review nominating letters submitted to GCN by a peer, a supervisor, or an industry partner.The judges base their evaluation on the evidence provided for each candidate in demonstrating:In addition to the editors of Government Computer News or its 1105 Government Information Group affiliates ' Wyatt Kash, Kevin McCaney, Joab Jackson, Jason Miller and Richard Walker ' this year's judges included: vice president and deputy director of health systems, SRA International Inc. client industry executive for U.S. government business, EDS. president, The Flyzik Group. Chief Information Officer, Health and Human Services Department. dean of faculty and academic programs at the Information Resources Management College, National Defense University. senior vice president of government affairs, Robbins-Gioia LLC. executive director of e-government for the U.S. public sector, Microsoft Corp. chief information officer, Housing and Urban Development Department.
Kathleen Adams,
Judith Douglas,
James Flyzik,
Charles Havekost,
Elizabeth McDaniel,
Emory Miller,
Kim Nelson,
Lisa Schlosser,
What the awards signify
Who we consider
How we select the winners
The criteria we use
- Sustained and exceptional leadership in government service involving the use or development of information technology
- The ability to inspire co-workers to higher achievement
- Courage on the job to take risks and to innovate.
Who judged this year
Kathleen Adams,
Judith Douglas,
James Flyzik,
Charles Havekost,
Elizabeth McDaniel,
Emory Miller,
Kim Nelson,
Lisa Schlosser,
NEXT STORY: Crisis management