VA names new info security chief
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CIO LaVerne Council tapped agency insider Brian Burns for the key role of chief information security officer.
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Brian Burns, a longtime government IT executive and a VA insider, has been named the agency's chief information security officer.
Brian Burns is taking over the post of chief information security officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs. CIO LaVerne Council announced his appointment in a Nov. 6 email message to staff of the Office of Information and Technology. Burns takes over for Dan Galick, who has served as acting CISO since Stan Lowe retired in August.
Burns is a longtime government IT executive and a VA insider. He currently serves as deputy director of the joint VA-Defense Department Interagency Program Office charged with improving interoperability between the two agencies' electronic health record system. According to Council's message, Burns will retain his IPO responsibilities as he takes on the added role of implementing the VA's cybersecurity strategy.
"Brian's leadership and expertise will be needed as we make a strong push to eliminate our material weakness and secure our employees' and veterans' data," Council wrote.
Burns has served in various senior IT slots at DOD and the Air Force. He has also held posts at the departments of the Interior, Health and Human Services, Education and Treasury. He won a Federal 100 award in 2005 while serving as CIO at the Bureau of Indian Affairs for his efforts to deliver better technology to American Indian tribes.