Cisco Names New State/Local Government Manager

State and local governments have a new source to help them put government

services online. Cisco Systems Inc. last month named a public-sector Internet

business development manager.

Mark Badger, formerly Alaska's chief information officer, will be an

intermediary between the company and the public sector, working with state

and local governments to develop and implement networks for government agencies.

The goal is for governments to "save time and reduce the size and cost

of administration," he said.

"When you take all that paper shuffling and reorganize the business

processes, when people are seeking ways to reduce administration — whether

government or universities — these network tools are needed," he said.

He said the position was created because of a high number of requests

for help with those networks.

"Everybody knows that governments and universities need to change to

become more networked-enabled so they don't have to stand in line when people

can do it online," he said.

Badger will be responsible for the public sector in all of North America.