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BBSNews - 2003-03-24 -- NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announced today, Patricia L. Dunnington is the agency's new Chief Information Officer (CIO).

"Pat brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our management team, " Administrator O'Keefe said. "She has an intimate knowledge of the agency, and she will be a key leader, planner and manager as we continue to apply cutting edge information technology to NASA," he said.

The CIO reports directly to the NASA Administrator and is responsible for the development of an integrated focus on information resource management strategies, policies, and practices. These encompass strategic planning; standards in computing, networking, and security; establishment of system and information architectures; and incorporation of life- cycle management concepts into information technology acquisitions and management.

Dunnington succeeds Paul Strassman. Strassman is NASA's Special Assistant to the Administrator for Information Management, and he was also serving as acting CIO. A leading expert in the IT community, he came to NASA last spring to develop a strategy and architecture. Having succeeded in that task, he plans to retire to private life. "Paul has given us a much needed road map to address our information technology needs for the future. He's introduced contemporary business practices and a game plan that will help us fully implement the plan," Administrator O'Keefe said.

Dunnington was NASA's Deputy Chief Information Officer since August 2002. Prior to her headquarters assignment, she completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program Developmental Work Assignment with Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif. She also served as the Chief Information Officer of NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.

Dunnington joined NASA in 1982 as a Presidential Management Intern in the Office of Aero-Space Technology and served in a number of increasingly responsible positions, including CIO for the enterprise office. She also served as NASA's Acting Deputy CIO in 1996. She received her B.A. from The Catholic University of America, Washington and her M.G.A from the University of Maryland, College Park, Md. She has received numerous awards including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal and NASA's Langley Research Center Superior Accomplishment Award.

Michael Hess is the Editor of BBSNews in Charlotte, NC. Write to the editor here. Not all submissions are published. Or visit the completely new BBSNews Blog and Forum on our front page - Please Participate in BBSNews!