Feb. 11 is the U.N.’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day that celebrates the impact and importance of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
It also focuses on the importance of encouraging women to enter STEM fields. In the government, many women have had powerful and profound impacts on Information Technology. Here are 11 women in Government IT you should know about:
- Dr. Karen DeSalvo – National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), Acting Assistant Secretary for Health
DeSalvo’s office oversees 12 core public health offices, 10 regional health offices across the nation, and 10 presidential and secretarial advisory committees. As the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, she drives the policy of health IT.
2. Mary Davie – Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Integrated Technology Services, GSA
Davie leads the management of IT and communication contracts for both defense and civilian agencies. Davie also served as president for the American Council for Technology from 2011-2012.
3. Erie Meyer –Founding Member of White House Digital Service
Meyer was a senior adviser to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer, Office of Science and Technology, and went on to become a founding member of the U.S. Digital Service.
4. Megan Smith – U.S. Chief Technology Officer for Office of Science and Technology Policy
Smith in 2014 became the U.S. Chief Technology Officer, where she serves as an assistant to the president. Her position focuses on the ways that technology and Federal technology policy will change the future of the country.
5. LaVerne Council – Assistant Secretary for Information Technology and CIO of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Council oversees the $4 billion IT budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to provide IT services the department needs to help the nation’s veterans.
6. Amy Northcutt – CIO, National Science Foundation
Northcutt has worked at the National Science Foundation since 2001. As CIO, she is responsible for the National Science Foundation’s investments, governance, policy, and planning.
7. Phyllis Schneck – Deputy Undersecretary for Cybersecurity and Communications, Department of Homeland Security
Along with managing 2,000 employees, Schneck keeps track of the 24/7 cyber monitoring and incident response headquarters.
8. Maria Roat – Chief Technology Officer for Department of Transportation
Roat brought her 30 years of IT experience to the DOT and focused on developing the department’s cloud computing, data management, and enterprise technology.
9. Gwynne Kostin – Director of Digital Government for General Services Administration
Kostin strategizes with other government agencies to foster better citizen digital engagement and up-to-date service delivery methods.
10. Hillary Hartley – Deputy Executive Director for GSA’s 18F
Hartley, a self-taught technologist, helps create a connection between the government and Americans by building intuitive, digital, and Web services.
11. Donna Dodson – Chief Cybersecurity Adviser and Director of the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence for National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Associate Director Chief Cyber Security Adviser Information Technology Laboratory
Dodson manages the lab’s research, and helps it develop relationships with academia, industry, and government agencies to brainstorm cybersecurity best practices.