US-VISIT Gets First CTO
Chase Garwood, until recently chief information officer for the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Homeland Security Department, last week started work as the chief technology officer for US-VISIT (a.k.a. the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program).
Chase Garwood, until recently chief information officer for the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Homeland Security Department, last week started work as the chief technology officer for US-VISIT (a.k.a. the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program).
The CTO position is a new one at US-VISIT and it marks a return for Garwood, who worked there under CIO Scott Hastings when the office was set up after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to create a system that would check the identity of foreign visitors entering the United States and check when they left. US-VISIT completed the entry part of the system (in 2006), but has yet to complete a system that verifies when a foreigner leaves.
In announcing Garwood's move, US-VISIT Director Robert Mocny wrote in an e-mail:
This is a new position for US-VISIT, and one that we are excited about, as Chase will spur technological innovation to help achieve our most urgent priorities. . . . Chase will [stand] up US-VISIT's first executive-level Chief Technology Office. Chase embodies the technical know-how, is networked with the requisite stakeholders, and understands that horizon thinking and advanced technology will be vital to US-VISIT's big picture strategic planning efforts.