Havekost's posse

HHS CIO Charles Havekost spoke at an Input breakfast this morning. (For those of you who don't know, Havekost is the CIO of one of the biggest federal agencies, but he is also one amazing guitar player!)

A few interesting items. HHS is about halfway through encrypting all of the agency's laptops. (The VA situation last summer was inferred, but never stated.)

He was also asked about the impact that the budget -- or lack of budget -- was having on HHS IT. The biggest impact was on any new projects, or lack thereof, he said. IT has become such an important part of the way organizations do business, operational IT simply has to be funded. Therefore any new projects just get put on hold.

HHS is one of the few agencies where lawmakers haven't done much of anything. They haven't passed anything in the House or Senate. There has been much speculation about what will happen with budgets this year. (DHS and DOD are the only agencies with budgets so far.) Many think it will be CR-world for the coming months, but Input folks predicted that there would be some kind of bill wrapping 'em all up in an attempt to force the White House to act.

We'll see.

Meanwhile, I got to sit next to Havekost's wife, Eva, who said that she doesn't ususally get to hear her husband speak and decided to take advantage of the opportunity. When asked afterwords how she thought he did, she said, "Quite well." Her husband made the topic understandable, even for a non-techie like herself, she said.

Not a bad review.

I also got pelted with questions about the FCW-GCN-WT situation. More on that tomorrow. I have to go watch the State of the Union.

Also tomorrow... I have received many Doan comments... and a request to discuss last night's 24, so we'll get to all that... (I haven't seen 24 yet. I have it TiVoed, so don't say anything yet!)