Air Force CIO sets departure date

The Air Force formally announced that John Gilligan will leave the service May 10, the first day the new Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer (SAF/XC) goes into operation.

Air Force officials said Gilligan, currently the service's CIO, hasn't finalized his post-Air Force plans. He previously said he most likely will take a job in the private sector after the establishment of the new Air Force office.

"John has led extraordinary efforts to adapt Air Force information technology capabilities for future challenges," said Michael Dominguez, the service's acting secretary, in a statement. "His initiatives will benefit all airmen and our contributions to the joint warfighting team for years to come."

Gilligan became the Air Force's fourth CIO in 2001, after holding the positions of principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for business and information management and deputy CIO. As CIO, he was the main adviser to service leaders on business processes, information management and IT standards.

Last December, Air Force officials decided to create a new IT headquarters by consolidating the offices of the CIO, Communications Operations and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration to ensure current and future IT projects get timely integration into the service's combat operations. They said a three-star general would oversee the new office, which would be supported by a civilian from the government's Senior Executive Service.

Air Force officials will officially launch the new SAF/XC with a press conference May 10. Lt. Gen. William "Tom" Hobbins, deputy chief of staff for warfighting integration -- the service’s top warfighting IT official -- will lead the media briefing.

The Air Force has not announced who will lead the new office that will centralize IT policy formulation, execution, resources and workforce governance. Service and industry officials believe Hobbins will get the job.