Army CIO absorbs Reserve office

The office of the Army Reserve's chief information officer has officially been integrated into the Army CIO's office in the latest effort to transform the service into a true multicomponent organization.

Lt. Gen. Peter Cuviello, Army CIO, and Lt. Gen. James Helmly, chief of the Army Reserve, this morning formalized the memorandum of agreement between the two organizations at a signing ceremony in Crystal City, Va.

The merger was necessary because of the "complexity of integrating multiple elements, and the regulatory and statutory guidance currently affecting each component," according to the memorandum.

Cuviello, who will retire July 3, said bringing the Reserve CIO into his shop "may be the largest step yet in the movement to a single Army Knowledge Enterprise."

Daniel Wiener II, Army Reserve CIO, agreed and said the merger does not require any cutbacks, including his own position, and instead will result in "significant efficiencies in technical, operational and human resources."

"I am not retiring or being disestablished," Wiener told FCW last week during a ceremony at Fort Meade, Md., adding that he continues to wear many hats of other job titles that are "not insignificant."

Under the memorandum of agreement, the Army Reserve will continue to be responsible for command, control, communications and computers/information technology (C4/IT) planning, programming, budgeting, and execution support for all related appropriations. The Army CIO will continue to provide strategic guidance and policy oversight to ensure that Army Reserve C4/IT requirements are integrated and validated within the Army's financial management process.

The Army Reserve regional CIO will retain authority for the Army Reserve virtual region, and all Army Reserve major command CIO functions and responsibilities will remain with the Reserve CIO in coordination with the Army Reserve Command CIO.

"The Army Reserve counts communication and signal technology as one of its core competencies," Helmly said in a statement. "In today's security environment where the speed and quality of [IT] affects actions on battlefields, the Army Reserve's two theater signal commands — the 311th and the 335th, are an integral part of today's force."

The MOA will be reviewed bi-annually by both parties to ensure policies and procedures remain current, and to work out any issues that arise concerning the interpretation or inadequacies of the agreement.

Margaret A.T. Reed contributed to this report.