President Obama’s nomination of California CIO Teri Takai to be the next Assistant Secretary for Networks and Information at the Department of Defense should come as no surprise. Takai has served as CIO of the nation’s largest state since 2007, after having filled the same role in Michigan, where she was director of the Michigan Department of Information Technology (MDIT).
“It gives me great confidence that such talented individuals have chosen to join my administration as we confront the challenges facing our nation”, Obama said in a statement. Takai was one of three individuals that the president nominated to fill various administration posts in an announcement this past Monday.
Takai and the California CIO’s office declined to comment on the nomination to the DoD post.
Before serving in the public sector, Takai worked in various IT capacities at Ford Motor Co. for 30 years, in addition to previous positions at EDS and Federal-Mogul. She is also the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including being named “Public Official of the Year” by Governing magazine in 2005.