Departing OPM CIO heads to Michigan for state post

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has tapped Office of Personnel Management CIO David DeVries to lead the state's IT program, according to a release announcing the appointment.

Snyder called DeVries an excellent fit for the job of CIO and director of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget because of his federal track record of boosting cybersecurity and modernizing outdated IT systems.

DeVries, a Michigan native, announced his intention to step down as OPM's CIO earlier this month. He has held the position since 2015, when he helped lead the agency's recovery from the devastating cyberattacks that resulted in the theft of sensitive information on more than 20 million former and current federal employees.

Before joining OPM, DeVries spent 35 years at the Defense Department, including several years as deputy CIO. He won a Federal 100 award in 2012, in part for his work on developing a single, enterprisewide IT architecture at DOD.

His appointment to the post of Michigan CIO is contingent on approval by the state senate. If confirmed, DeVries would replace David Behen, who left in June to become La-Z-Boy's CIO and vice president.