Army selects new chief information officer

The Army this month selected a new chief information officer after realigning the office of the CIO/G-6 into two separate positions earlier this year.

Raj Iyer has assumed the position as CIO for Information Technology Reform, an Army spokesman told Inside Defense today via an emailed statement. Iyer is the service's first independent CIO and did not require Senate confirmation.

The Army secretary and chief of staff in June announced the service would split the CIO/G-6 office into two separate CIO and deputy chief of staff (G-6) positions in an effort to focus on cloud architecture. The CIO/G-6 position was previously held by Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford.

As CIO, Iyer will be responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of an $18 billion portfolio for implementation of enterprise information management and information technology programs, according to a Nov. 19 Army press release.

Iyer "sets the strategic direction and oversees the execution of policies and programs for IM/IT including managing an integrated IT architecture, enterprise data management, cybersecurity and cloud management," the press release states.

Previously, he served in several management and senior management positions in both industry and the government, including chief technology officer and acting deputy CIO for Army Materiel Command in Huntsville, AL.