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Angie Drobnic Holan
By Angie Drobnic Holan July 28, 2009

Chopra confirmed as CTO

Last time we checked in on this promise, President Barack Obama had just nominated Aneesh Chopra to be the nation's first chief technology officer, or CTO. Chopra was previously the secretary of technology to Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia.

On May 21, the Senate confirmed him to his concurrent position as an associate director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Since his confirmation, Chopra has spoken publicly about using technology to make health records electronic, to improve public schools and to launch innovative public-private partnerships.

We rate this Promise Kept.

Our Sources

U.S. Senate, confirmation of Aneesh Chopra as an Associate Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy , May 21, 2009

U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy, Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra testifies on the Future of Learning before the House Committee on Education and Labor , June 16, 2009

Richmond Times Dispatch, A conversation with Aneesh Chopra, June 21, 2009, accessed via Nexis

Washington Internet Daily, Chopra outlines health IT and technology goals, June 8, 2009, accessed via Nexis

Angie Drobnic Holan
By Angie Drobnic Holan April 21, 2009

Obama names chief technology officer

President Barack Obama named Aneesh Chopra, currently the secretary of technology to Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, to be the nation's first chief technology officer.

"In this role, Aneesh will promote technological innovation to help achieve our most urgent priorities — from creating jobs and reducing health care costs to keeping our nation secure," Obama said in making the appointment.

Virginia officials praised Chopra for his role in making state government more efficient, promoting rural broadband, and using technology to improve health care and education.

Before his work in Virginia, Chopra was a managing director with the Advisory Board Company, a publicly traded health care research group that specializes in best practices, business strategy and management. Chopra holds a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University"s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

As chief technology officer, Chopra will be an adviser to the president. But he will also be named associate director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and that position requires Senate confirmation, according to the White House press office. So until the confirmation process is complete, we rate this promise In the Works.

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