Getting a Read on a Possible Sec. Brown

My colleague Tom Shoop posted a scoop on Government Executive's FedBlog today, speculating that a leading contender for the Veterans Affairs' secretary job is Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown. He's a "serious contender" for the post, according to a well-placed source. If President-elect Barack Obama ends up appointing him, it's a bit hard to get a read on what that would mean for IT at the Veterans Affairs Department, which has had a spotty history in its management of technology.

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown

From a look at his bio , he has shown a passing interest in technology, having served on a science and technology subcommittee for four years when he was a member of the House of Delegates in Maryland, including serving on the Joint Technology Oversight Committee. He also was a member of a 2000 business and technology division task force.

It wouldn't be the first time a VA secretary was interested in IT. Anthony Principi , who served as VA secretary under President George W. Bush from 2001-2005, focused on how better management of IT systems could improve health care for veterans.