Spires takes CIO role at IRS

Richard Spires is the Internal Revenue Service’s new chief information officer, Commissioner Mark Everson announced today. His appointment was effective Sept. 17.

Spires, a private-sector information technology executive before joining the IRS in early 2004, will be responsible for almost all aspects of the IRS’ IT systems, including its critical modernization program, according to the agency.

“Richard has been an important contributor to the significant progress we’ve made over the past few years in our modernization efforts,” Everson said. “In particular, he successfully spearheaded our program that mandates the electronic filing of tax returns by large corporations and nonprofits.”

Spires served most recently as associate CIO for applications development. He has had responsibility for more than 400 electronic systems within the IRS that support tax administration. Spires has also led projects within the Business Systems Modernization program.

He helped develop the agency’s Modernization Vision and Strategy and its associated five-year plan for IT development.

From 2000 to mid-2003, Spires served as the president, chief operating officer and a director of Mantas, a software product vendor.

Spires received bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and mathematical sciences from the University of Cincinnati. He also holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University.