VA hires chief architect

The Department of Veterans Affairs has named Scott Cragg, a career technology executive with experience in intelligence and domestic technology, as its new chief architect.

Cragg began his new job Aug. 23 at the VA, where he will be responsible for the department's enterprise architecture, database management and the records management program. He also will oversee the enforcement of technical standards to achieve interoperability and integration across the department.

In a memo to his staff, chief information officer Robert McFarland said Cragg has extensive experience with defense and domestic information technology systems, corporate operations, hardware and software development, systems engineering and enterprise resource planning. McFarland said Cragg brings "diverse experience to the [IT] team, and we are exited to have him aboard." Cragg has Level III certifications in program management, information systems and systems engineering, research and development.

Cragg has worked for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he directed HUD's national IT programs and infrastructure. More recently, he served as CIO for the National Imaging and Mapping Agency.

Cragg is also a certified defense acquisition professional in program management, systems engineering and IT management.