DOE to seek new technologies

The Energy Department plans to create a new associate chief information officer position to track technological innovations and introduce new products to the department, said CIO Tom Pyke.

Pyke said he plans to begin searching for the right person to fill the position in about a month.

He said he did something similar in his previous role as CIO at the Commerce Department, but the DOE official will have a more direct role and defined mission. It is not clear whether other agencies have similar positions, but some have put more emphasis on management skills than technological expertise in hiring CIOs, he said.

"I think CIOs should have a strong technology background," Pyke said. "Not all agencies have done that, and I think they're missing an opportunity."

New and better technology is a critical element of providing better service for lower cost, an inherent part of every agency's mission, he said.