White House Innovation Champion Aneesh Chopra Stepping Down

By on January 27, 2012 at 12:51 PM

One of the White House’s leading forces for innovation, and the nation’s first formally appointed chief technology officer, Aneesh Chopra, is stepping down from his position, the White House confirmed today.

The Washington Post is reporting Chopra is expected to announce that he will run for lieutenant governor in Virginia, “according to Democrats familiar with his plan, but not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.” News of Chopra’s expected departure was initially reported by FedScoop.

Chopra’s boss, John P. Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, described working with Chopra as “an invigorating experience” since the time Chopra was sworn in as the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer on May 22, 2009.

“Aneesh helped design the President’s National Wireless Initiative, including the development of a nationwide public safety broadband network, establish a set of Internet Policy Principles including the call for a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, and led the implementation of the President’s open government strategy focused on unlocking the innovative potential of the federal government to solve problems and seed the jobs and industries of the future,” Holdren said.

As recently as last week, Chopra was helping to promote new innovation initiatives, appearing with Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan in announcing ways to empower students and educators using technology to create a more competitive U.S. workforce.

Department of Education’s launch of ed.data.gov and a student aid tool that allows ncing the use of innovative technology to empower n the name of innovation.

Prior to joining the Obama administration, Chopra worked for Virginia’s Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine. It was while working for Kaine as Virginia’s tech czar that he got to know Vivek Kundra, who would become Obama’s choice for the nation’s first chief information officer. His prior work at a health-care research and consultancy firm, the Advisory Board, would also connect him with another promiment Obama administration player, Jeffrey Zients, former chief performance officer, and now acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Chopra was an enthusiastic voice for innovation in government, and the nation at large.

Following are number of his blog posts and presentations while at the White House:

Chopra’s departure drew widespread praise.

Current Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel wrote in a Twitter blog: “Honor to work alongside CTO @aneeshchopra for the last six months. Will miss his passion, his drive, leadership and friendship.”

TechAmerica’s acting president and CEO Dan Varroney, in a statement, said, “We’ve had the pleasure of working with Aneesh for many years during both his tenure as CTO and his leadership in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He’s made an indelible mark on technology policy in this country because of his belief in the transformative nature of technology that resulted in powerful collaborations between government and the industry that will benefit our country long past Aneesh’s last day as CTO.”

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