Bush will appoint new DHS CIO

President Bush today announced he plans to appoint Richard Mangogna to be the Homeland Security Department’s chief information officer. The top information technology slot at DHS opened up after CIO Scott Charbo was promoted to deputy undersecretary for DHS' National Protection and Programs Directorate. Since Charbo’s departure, Deputy CIO Charles Armstrong has been acting in the role. However, Armstrong has announced he plans to take a position as CIO for Customs and Border Protection, also part of DHS. The announcement of Mangogna’s appointment paves the way for Armstrong to make the switch, as he has agreed to stay on until DHS found a new person to head its IT shop. However, a DHS spokesman said that Armstrong will stay for a while to help with  the transition. Because the new CIO position is an appointment rather than a nomination, it does not require Senate approval, the spokesman said. DHS will also look for a deputy CIO. Mangogna currently works as an independent consultant with the Mason Harriman Group, the White House said. The White House also noted that he had worked in the past as executive vice president and CIO at JP Morgan Chase and president and chief executive officer of Covidea.