White House taps Education’s tech lead as new deputy federal CIO
White House taps Education’s tech lead as new deputy federal CIO
Publish Date: 2026-05-07 11:58:00
Source Domain: www.nextgov.com
Summary of Article
The article announces the appointment of Thomas Flagg as the new deputy to Federal Chief Information Officer (CFO) Gregory Barbaccia, who communicated this news through an internal email. Flagg currently holds the Chief Information Officer position at the Department of Education and previously spent over 11 years at the Department of Labor. Barbaccia believes Flagg’s experience will provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by federal technology leaders and will help in translating these issues into effective government-wide policies. Flagg’s new position comes as Barbaccia balances multiple roles, including serving as the acting director for the Technology Transformation Services at the General Services Administration, the federal chief AI officer, and the federal government’s service delivery lead. Despite the high demand on Barbaccia’s time, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) did not comment on Flagg’s new appointment.
Key Points:
- New Deputy Appointment: Thomas Flagg has been appointed as the new deputy to Federal Chief Information Officer Gregory Barbaccia.
- Rich Experience: Flagg brings considerable experience, having served in important technology roles both at the Education and Labor Departments.
- Multiple Roles for Barbaccia: Barbaccia holds several roles including acting director of Technology Transformation Services, federal chief AI officer and federal service delivery lead.
- Intensified Challenges: The Technology Transformation Services division has lost significant staff since the Trump Administration.
- Potential for Improved Policy: Barbaccia expects Flagg’s practical knowledge to enhance the federal technology policy framework, by enabling better understanding and addressing of agency-level issues.
