Va. tech chief to leave

George Newstrom, Virginia's secretary of technology, is retiring at the end of this week and will be replaced by his top deputy, Eugene Huang.

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner announced the technology changes at this week's Commonwealth of Virginia's Information Technology Symposium in Norfolk, Va. "Newstrom has led the most far-reaching reform in state government -- reforming how we use and purchase" IT, Warner said. "He brought a private-sector philosophy to an area of state government desperately in need of some private-sector solutions."

Warner also announced that Newstrom would be succeeded by Huang, who has served as deputy secretary for the past three years. Warner said Huang has worked to fundamentally change the way Virginia government officials purchase and manage IT across state agencies. "Eugene's vision, leadership and management skills will continue to be invaluable to our technology efforts throughout the commonwealth," Warner said.

Huang, who is 28 years old, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999. He met Warner when Warner was running for Congress and was recruited to work in Virginia after Warner was elected governor.

"I think the message I've stressed internally to our staff is that we still have a lot to accomplish," Huang said. "The governor has laid out a very ambitious plan for [technology] at the beginning of the administration."

Although it would be impossible to achieve every objective in a single gubernatorial term, Huang said, "it is my hope to continue much of the transforming work as well as putting Virginia on the map as far as [technology development] for the 21st century."