Cosgrave returns to government

Paul Cosgrave, former chief information officer at the Internal Revenue Service, will return to government work Feb. 1 to help the new Transportation Security Administration put in place technology needed to improve airport security.

Cosgrave will work with John Magaw, undersecretary for transportation security who President Bush appointed to the post this week, to figure out what technology airports need to solve their security problems.

His role, Cosgrave said, is "to examine all available technology and come up with a technology plan."

Cosgrave said he will work with TSA as a consultant, but will give up his current consulting position as president of start-up construction company eAECglobal — a job that has him splitting his time between the United States and Europe. The TSA post is a "full-time responsibility," Cosgrave said via cell phone from Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Cosgrave started at the IRS as a consultant in 1998 and soon became CIO. While at IRS, Cosgrave was instrumental in developing the IRS modernization blueprint, which defines how to improve the tax agency's business operations with technology. He left for the private sector a year ago.

The motivation for his return to government, Cosgrave said, is "led by the opportunity to make a difference."