Chris Vein, the newly appointed deputy chief technology officer for government innovation, delivered his first public remarks since joining the White House’s tech team late last month and provided a few hints into what to look for.
TechPresident reports Vein, previously CTO of San Francisco city and county, didn’t dwell much on his new duties, saying he had not yet devised a strategy. He did, however, describe the big goals.
For example, he said he would bring in “experts,†or “just people with ideas about innovative ways to renew government,†consult with them and make sure the administration can actually do what it sets out to do.
But the most important thing is showcasing the success of other tech-minded policymakers and policy-minded techies, he explained.
“I think the bully pulpit is probably the biggest asset of my job … simply to trumpet your success, give you guys credit for it and tell everybody what we’re really doing,†Vein said at a transportation and technology conference, according to TechPresident.
As San Francisco’s top technologist, Vein championed an open-source procurement policy and won the hearts of open gov adherents by posting city data online.
As deputy CTO, he will enjoy an expanded role — from specifically focusing on open government, as his predecessor Beth Noveck did, to government innovation more broadly.
