Wennergren wins Franke award

Dave Wennergren, the Navy Department's chief information officer, received the John J. Franke award at the opening dinner of this year’s Management of Change conference held at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

The award is given to individuals who make extraordinary long-term contributions to public service.

Wennergren, a 26-year veteran of the Navy, has taken a leading role on numerous projects within the Navy, across the Defense Department and in the federal CIO community.

He is currently the vice chairman of the Federal CIO Council and co-chairman of the council's best practices committee. He also is chairman of the Defense Identity Protection and Management Senior Coordinating Group. His accomplishments include overseeing the rollout of the Defense Department’s Common Access Card and leading the Navy’s migration to Web-based service solutions.

In his speech before the award presentation, Barry C. West, president of the American Council for Technology, noted Wennergren’s leadership capabilities. West recalled a moment when Wennergren inspired his employees: “I’m not worried about the project,” Wennergren said, “but I’m happy that my workers are.”

“I’d like to steal those words and use them myself,” West said with a laugh. Wennergren was not informed about the award before the conference and was urged by his juniors to attend.

The award has existed since 1999. Winners are chosen by past award winners. The award’s first recipient, Marty Wagner, was also onstage to give the award to Wennergren.