DeVries to OPM

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management announced today that the Pentagon's Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer David DeVries will become OPM's next permanent CIO and will help the agency transition the National Background Investigations Bureau's IT systems to those built and operated by the Pentagon.

DeVries, who has spent more than 35 years at the Defense Department, will join OPM within the next few weeks, according to the announcement.

"While at the Defense Department, DeVries was instrumental in the transition of DOD information technology (IT) to a single, secure department-wide architecture -- similar to the plan OPM has been implementing," according to the announcement, which notes that DeVries played an important role in DOD's cybersecurity efforts.

"I'm elated that David has decided to join our team here at OPM," acting OPM Director Beth Cobert said in the announcement. "David has decades worth of the technical and management experience necessary to hit the ground running as we continue our technology transformation efforts, and work with our partners at DOD to stand up the National Background Investigations Bureau."

The Pentagon will be building, designing and operating the National Background Investigations Bureau's IT systems with an aim to leverage the Defense Department's "significant national security, IT, and cybersecurity expertise, incorporating security into the fundamental design of the systems, strengthening the security of the data environment, and providing robust privacy protections," according to the announcement.

DeVries will spearhead this transition.

"Dave will be missed by DOD, but DOD isn't losing his expertise," said DOD CIO Terry Halvorsen. "As DOD and OPM continue to improve current IT systems and begin the development of the new IT services and environment to support the [bureau], he will play a key leadership role, ensuring integration between OPM and DOD."