Four IT execs earn GCN Awards
Connecting state and local government leaders
GCN's top executives of the year for civilian and defense agencies and industry, along with this year's Hall of Fame inductee, will be honored at the GCN Awards Gala in October.
John Garing, who earlier this year wrapped up a long career in public service as the Defense Information System Agency's top information technology strategist, will be honored in October with induction into GCN's Hall of Fame.
Garing and GCN's three top IT Executives of the Year will take part in the 23rd annual GCN Awards Gala, which recognize significant achievements by agency project teams along with individual leaders who have made made a real difference in advancing the use of IT in the government.
Related coverage:
20 IT projects to be honored at GCN Awards
The gala will be held Oct. 27 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Tysons Corner in McLean, Va. The winners also will be profiled in a special report in GCN’s Oct. 18 issue, and on GCN.com.
This year’s Executive of the Year winners are:
Civilian Agency
Roger Baker, assistant secretary for Information and Technology for the Veterans Affairs Department, for his leadership and accomplishments in rationalizing and advancing the department’s IT projects and programs within VA and in concert with the Defense Department.
Defense Agency
Gary Winkler, program executive officer, U.S. Army PEO - Enterprise Information Systems, for work in delivering a variety of significant service improvements to Army personnel, including Defense Wide Transmission and Satellite Communications systems, Army Knowledge Online/Defense Knowledge Online services (including the Go Mobile program), Global Combat Support Systems, Logistics Modernization, and other programs.
Industry
Bruce Klein, senior vice president for Cisco’s U.S. Public Sector division, for developing beneficial and highly tailored IP-based networking solutions and other services for federal, state and local government agencies.
Hall of Fame
Garing, former director for Strategic Planning and Information for the Defense Information Systems Agency, for his accomplishments in transitioning DISA’s planning, engineering, acquisition, operation and information services strategy to more fully align with the changing needs of the armed services.
Garing, who now is principal consultant for Suss Consulting, has served as DISA’s deputy director of operations, director of the Computing Systems Directorate, chief information officer and, most recently, director of Strategic Planning and Information. He retired earlier this year.
“Each of these executives of the year, through their leadership and by their example, has made a significant impact this past year in showing how information technology can be harnessed more effectively in the federal government,” said Wyatt Kash, editor-at-large, 1105 Government Information Group and outgoing editor-in-chief of Government Computer News.
“The induction into GCN’s Hall of Fame of John Garing reflects Garing’s enduring contributions to improving IT and communication systems, network integration and enterprise services in support of the Defense Department and the White House.”