ACT/IAC name Allen executive director
Connecting state and local government leaders
A former senior policy analyst for the Office of Management and Budget will lead the American Council for Technology and its sister organization, the Industry Advisory Council.
Ken Allen, a former senior policy analyst for the Office of Management and Budget, will take the helm of the American Council for Technology and its sister organization, the Industry Advisory Council.
ACT/IAC officials confirmed Allen will replace Joiwind Ronen as executive director. Ronen, who led the organizations for two years, will remain with IAC/ACT for at least a few weeks during the transition period.
Allen, who will start March 28, was chosen from 200 applicants, IAC/ACT said.
"My biggest challenge is to demonstrate to more people in government and industry the benefits of this unique forum ACT and IAC is," Allen said in a conference call with reporters. "I want to help them enhance their bottom line to use technology to improve public service. We are unlike any other organization and we need to let people know that and provide programs that meets the needs of our constituencies."
Allen has experience in both the federal and nonprofit sectors. He worked for three presidents at OMB where he oversaw acquisition and management of IT. He helped create the Electronic Communications Act, the Computer Security Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act. He also directed the agency implementation of the Privacy Act.
After leaving OMB, Allen was the executive vice president of the National Newspaper Association and founder of the Allen Group, a consulting firm that focused on public emergency communications and nonprofit management. He also was president of the Information Industry Association.
Allen currently serves as the executive director for the Partnership for Public Warning, a public-private organization that works to improve federal, state and local governments' ability to warn citizens during emergencies. Allen also helped develop the recommendations for the Emergency Alert System and Homeland Security Advisory Systems.
Allen has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in administration from George Washington University.
'We are excited to welcome Ken Allen as our new executive director,' said Barry C. West, president of ACT and CIO of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 'His knowledge of government will be a valuable asset to the organization as we move into the future. More importantly, he understands the value of public-private partnerships and knows how to forge effective relationships with leaders in both government and industry.'
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