Marines' CIO getting second star

The Marine Corps' chief information officer is receiving a promotion tobecome a two-star general — a move that shows the importance the serviceis placing on information technology.

Brig. Gen. Robert Shea, assistant chief of staff for command, control,communications and computers and CIO, is being promoted to major general,according to a Pentagon announcement Tuesday.

Although the Marines don't have definitive records on the matter, Sheawas the first communications officer to become a general officer three yearsago. His position was usually held by a former infantry officer or aviator,rather than a former communications specialist.

Shea has helped marshal support for the Marines' participation in the$6.9 billion Navy Marine Corps Intranet outsourcing procurement with ElectronicData Systems Corp. The Corps' participation in NMCI begins in 2003.

Shea's work helped NMCI get the support of senior officials such asMarine Corps Commandant Gen. James Jones and then-Navy Secretary RichardDanzig, who gave the Marines substantial funding to help make NMCI a reality.

Shea also helped the service continue to centralize its network andinformation security management through a global network operations centerat Quantico, Va.

Shea likely will receive a new assignment this summer, according toa service official.