October 1, 2009

Volume 4, Number 10

From the CIO

In my first few weeks as Chief Information Officer (CIO), I have been heavily involved in getting up to speed and taking initial steps to move VITA and the IT infrastructure partnership forward. My top three areas of focus are enhancing customer service, getting the infrastructure partnership back on track and reducing expenses.

To make progress in these areas, I have made organizational changes and launched several new initiatives. They are: establishing full-service customer teams that are empowered to make decisions and develop creative solutions, creating the CIO Council to increase customer involvement and input, aggressively seeking ways to reduce costs, and more.

I have been meeting with agency IT and business leaders, participated in the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS), attended a meeting of the Virginia Local Government IT Executives, and hosted a VITA/Northrop Grumman dialogue meeting with Northrop Grumman’s new VITA Program Director Sam Abbate. All of these activities demonstrate a commitment to return to teamwork and partnership among VITA, Northrop Grumman and the agencies.

I have found that while there is more work to do, substantial progress has been made and all of those involved have been working diligently to enhance IT so that agencies can better serve their constituents. Looking forward, I plan to continue enhancing customer service and focus on business development, both of which are essential to the success of VITA and our infrastructure partnership with Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman names Samuel Abbate vice president, VITA program

Northrop Grumman Corporation has named Samuel Abbate as Northrop Grumman’s vice president of the VITA program. In this role, Abbate is responsible for the company’s overall program management of the partnership between Northrop Grumman and VITA. Abbate’s appointment is designed to complement the VITA reorganization.

Most recently, Abbate was vice president and program manager for the company’s New York City wireless network program, a citywide mobile wireless network for public safety personnel and other city agencies. In that role, he led the successful delivery of the largest, private municipal wireless broadband infrastructure network in the country. Previously, Abbate served as director and deputy integrated product team leader for electronic support and attack systems within Northrop Grumman. He also has served in a variety of management positions including program director for the Increased Capability III program, where he was responsible for the development and successful fleet deployment of the next generation electronic warfare system for electronic attack tactical aircraft.

VITA posts requirements for stimulus-funded technology procurements

All orders placed under VITA statewide contracts and all VITA-delegated procurements funded in whole or in part by recovery funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) must comply with the ARRA guidance and ARRA Terms and Conditions. To assist customers, this guidance has been posted online.

Read the requirements

Virginia's stimulus reporting wins national Web recognition

The Center for Digital Government honored Virginia's official stimulus reporting Web site with a 2009 Digital Government Achievement Award in the government-to-citizen category. The stimulus reporting site facilitated citizen input into project selection and transparency of funded projects. Between Feb. 10 and the March 6 submission deadline, more than 9,000 citizen proposals were submitted to the Governor's Office through the Web site. It was created collaboratively by staff from the Governor's Office, State Comptroller, Department of Planning and Budget, Department of Accounts and VITA's Enterprise Applications Division (formerly the Virginia Enterprise Application Program).

Read the Governor's press release

Read 2009 Digital Government Achievement Award details

2009 Governor's Technology Awards presented

Secretary of Technology Len Pomata and Cathilea Robinett, executive director of the Center for Digital Government, presented 2009 Governor's Technology Awards to 12 recipients in eight categories during a lunchtime ceremony at COVITS Sept. 21.

Agency winners include:

• Online, not In Line - Department of Business Assistance, Business One Stop; honorable mention, Transportation, ARRA Reporting Tool
• Cross Boundary Collaboration - Departments of Mines, Minerals and Energy and Transportation, Digital Signature Project
• IT as Efficiency Driver - Department of Emergency Management, V.I.P.E.R. Project; Honorable Mention, Department of Forestry, Forest Protection and Mobile Computing Project
• Innovation in K-12 Education - Department of Education, iTunes U
• Public Sector Telework Initiative - State Board of Elections

See all award winners and photos 

Wireless contracts transition update

VITA awarded new statewide contracts for wireless services (voice and data) to AT&T, nTelos, Sprint/Nextel and Verizon Wireless this summer. These contracts provide more carriers and service options, including a wider variety of plans and features. Following is a transition update.

Sprint/Nextel: Representative will contact telecommunications coordinators this month, if they haven’t yet done so, to transition wireless services from the expiring Sprint contract to the new statewide plans. The new contract provides updated pricing and new service options, allowing you to choose the most cost-effective plans. Submit Telecommunications Service Requests (TSRs) by Oct. 30. Information and plans are available online.

Verizon Wireless: Now that the Commonwealth has established a services agreement with Verizon Wireless directly, representatives will contact telecommunications coordinators to transition Verizon services they have through the General Services Administration (GSA) contract vehicle to the new state contract. Most organizations will benefit from a wider choice of plan offerings, lower service rates and consolidated telecommunications billing. The increased customer base created by moving GSA users to the new contract will strengthen VITA’s ability to negotiate new plans and better rates.

ISOAG meeting is Oct. 6

The next meeting of the Information Security Officers Advisory Group (ISOAG) will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the Chesterfield Enterprise Solutions Center (CESC).

The agenda includes: Continuity of operations planning, Chris Miller, VDEM; "Recognizing Information Security Awareness Month: Ideas from a Locality Perspective," Sandra Graham, Chesterfield City; IronPort e-mail gateways, Eric Taylor, Northrop Grumman; Encryption, Bob Baskette, VITA; and 2009 Commonwealth Security data points, Benny Ambler, VITA.

Registration information is delivered by e-mail to the ISOAG member list. If you would like to attend but are not yet a member, please send an e-mail request to CommonwealthSecurity@vita.virginia.gov so that you can receive registration information.

ITIB meeting is Oct. 15

The next meeting of the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) will be held Oct. 15 at CESC. All meetings of the ITIB are open to the public.

Read about the ITIB 

Commonwealth Information Security Conference is Nov. 2

The first annual Commonwealth Information Security Conference, “Information Security: Mission Possible,” will be held  from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Holiday Inn Select, Koger South Conference Center. Commonwealth Security and Risk Management is conducting the conference for state and local government attendees to assist in fulfilling the shared mission of securing information. The registration fee is $48 and includes attendance, hot buffet breakfast and lunch and afternoon refreshments. Continuing professional education credits will be offered. Attendance will be limited to the first 95 registrants.

The partial agenda includes a keynote address from Gino Menchini, former New York City chief information officer and commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications; Walter J. Kucharski, auditor of public accounts, Commonwealth of Virginia; Randy Marchany, Virginia Tech University information security officer; and Bob Baskette, Commonwealth Security architect.

Information Security Resource Center is online

The latest security advisories and recorded attack statistics on Commonwealth systems are posted. These resources are available at no charge to anyone interested in improving information security.

Investigate the Resource Center

September Information Security Tips posted

This month's issue focuses on cyberethics, or responsible behavior on the Internet.

Read September Information Security Tips 

September Service Bulletin now online

The September edition of the VITA Service Bulletin features the state contract for emergency notification tools, prestigious national recognition for the City of Virginia Beach and Fairfax County and information security resources.

Read September VITA Service Bulletin