FAA names new CIO

David M. Bowen has been named the Federal Aviation Administration’s assistant administrator for information services and chief information officer, according to a FAA press release.

Bowen joins the FAA from Blue Shield of California, where he served as senior vice president and CIO. Bowen replaces Daniel J. Mehan, who retired from the FAA in September 2005.

“Dave brings a winning mix of technical background and leadership skills to the FAA,” said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey, in a press release. “He has a record of demonstrated results that will help the agency apply a corporate approach to its IT investments and control our operating costs.”

As CIO, Bowen joins Blakey’s senior management team as the FAA’s principal adviser on information technology and will direct the agency’s overall strategic IT planning and $2 billion budget to support critical administrative, business and operational needs.

From 1998 to 2000, Bowen was senior vice president for information management and CIO at Catholic Healthcare West.

Bowen has more than 25 years of flying experience and holds a FAA commercial pilot license. He is also a licensed certified public accountant, has a master’s degree in business administration from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania.