New manager to steer IT categories at GSA

The General Services Administration has given Bill Zielinski a double-barreled title -- director of the Office of Strategic Programs and IT category executive -- to go along with his diverse duties in fine-tuning the agency's IT solutions under its category management plans.

As IT category executive, Zielinski will oversee hardware, software, telecommunications, IT services/consulting, cyber category teams and the solutions that fall within those categories at GSA's Federal Acquisition Service, according to Mary Davie, assistant commissioner of GSA's Office of Integrated Technology Services. She added that ITS is looking for subcategory managers who will report to Zielinski.

Zielinski will work with the ITS acquisition group, 18F, Office of Governmentwide Policy and Assisted Acquisition Services to ensure that category management solutions are meeting the needs of federal agencies.

"Bill will help guide the categories with his experience and knowledge of IT, acquisition and customers," Davie told FCW. "This includes helping determine appropriate IT solutions and working on cross-category initiatives."

As director of the Office of Strategic Programs, Zielinski oversees the Software Center of Excellence, USAccess, federal public key infrastructure initiatives, cybersecurity services, the Cloud Program Management Office and ITS' Center for GWAC Programs.

Zielinski's deep background in managing IT in the federal environment includes stints as the acting unit chief for agency oversight in the Office of the Federal CIO at the Office of Management and Budget, where he oversaw the government's Information Technology Capital Planning and Investment Control process on behalf of the federal CIO. He was also CIO at the Social Security Administration, where he led a staff of 3,400 IT specialists and managed an annual budget of more than $1.5 billion.

"Bill was chosen because of his experience, skill and relationships across the federal government and with industry," Davie said. "He brings some great perspectives as someone who has been an IT manager, a CIO and has worked at OMB. His understanding of how technology can support and enhance agency missions is critical for ITS to succeed in supporting our customer agencies. He's perfect for the position."