VA CIO nominee vows to create program management office
VA CIO nominee vows to create program management office
Publish Date: 2026-06-05 17:33:00
Source Domain: www.nextgov.com
Summary:
President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) CIO, Gary Shatswell, addressed the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee underscoring the urgent need for transformative changes in the VA’s IT operations. Shatswell, an existing VA employee with substantial private sector tech experience, indicated that organizational transformation and accountability would be top priorities if confirmed. He highlighted the need for a new program management office to better oversee modernization efforts, previously thwarted by lack of proper tooling and oversight. Shatswell emphasized the importance of developing an environment of transparency and agility to improve mission delivery and to serve veterans effectively. As the third nominee, he marked the first to face a committee hearing, and his past role as a senior advisor hinted at an administration strategy of leveraging internal experience for key roles.
Key Points:
- Gary Shatswell, Trump’s nominated VA CIO, committed to revolutionizing VA’s technology operations emphasizing transparency and accountability.
- The VA’s IT operations suffer from delays and cost overruns, making modern organizational changes crucial.
- Shatswell aims to establish a new program management office, absent from current VA IT operations, to better oversee IT efforts.
- He emphasized a culture of agility and transparency to boost operational efficiency and veteran services.
- Shatswell’s appointment would continue the strategy of utilizing internal advisors with tech industry experience to fill pivotal VA roles.
