The Changing Role of the CIO — Insights from EPA’s CIO Malcolm Jackson

Cloud computing — it is making a big difference in how agency Chief Information Officers do their jobs.

The cloud means CIOs are able to be less focused on infrastructure IT and more focused on deploying new technologies in faster and cheaper ways.

Malcolm Jackson is the Chief Information Officer at the EPA. He told Chris Dorobek on the DorobekINSIDER program how the role of the CIO is changing with Cloud Computing.

3 Big Impacts of the Digital Government Strategy:

1. Enable Mobile Access
2. Prepare Government for Bring Your Own Mobile Devices
3. Leverage the Private Sector

Mobile Workforce:The Office of the CIO has to approve all applications. Jackson now requires all apps to be mobile first. That goes for apps for the public and for internal EPA use.

“I envision a world where laptops, tables and phones are all inked together,” said Jackson.

Open Data: EPA has been one of the biggest supporters for Data.gov. Created an apps challenge and Developers Central. The two platforms have been able to open the agencies eyes to how the public can and will use their data.

“If I could rule the government for one day — I would streamline the acquisition process,” said Jackson, “I would make it so that the public could have more of a say and could get involved if they wanted.”