The order carries out many of the recommendations put forward by the New Jersey Commission on Government Efficiency and Reform in July 2006. The newly created Technology Governing Board will be charged with setting the overall direction and priorities for the information technology community in the executive branch. The board will review and approve the annual budget request of the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and all new spending requests from all departments prior to their submission to the Treasury. The board will consist of the chairman, appointed by the Governor; the Chief Technology Officer; the State Treasurer; three executive branch commissioners, chosen by the Governor; and three public members, appointed by the Governor.
The Chief Technology Officer (CTO), appointed by the Governor, will have the overall responsibility and authority for all IT operations in the executive branch. Additionally, up to six Deputy CTOs will be named and will have a distinct portfolio of departments they will serve.
The Governor named Hank Uberoi to serve as the Chair of the Governing Board and Adel Ebeid to serve as the CTO. Uberoi, currently a Managing Partner with HU Investments LLC, previously served as a partner and co-COO of the Technology Division of Goldman Sachs.
"A key focus for the Governing Board will be to use technology to improve efficiency in government and provide innovative applications to support high priority initiatives," Uberoi said. "I am looking forward to working with the governor and his team on improving the functioning of our state."
Earlier this year, Corzine tapped Ebeid to assume responsibility for statewide IT operations on an interim basis. Prior to joining OIT, Adel was the Chief Operating Officer for the Motor Vehicle Commission where he was responsible for the technology modernization and implementation of the digital driver license program.
"Governor Corzine understands that technology is an important cornerstone in streamlining government operations," Ebeid said. "I'm honored by the governor's vote of confidence and look forward to working with the Board and cabinet members and the legislature to build on their successes and improve the effectiveness of our technology operations."
To provide additional oversight over major information technology initiatives, a Project Review Board (PRB) will be established and have the responsibility of reviewing, approving and monitoring all IT projects exceeding a monetary threshold determined by the Governing Board. The PRB will be comprised of three to five executive branch officials selected by the Chair of the Governing Board and approved by the Governor.
The order calls upon the Governing Board and CTO to analyze the Statewide Information Technology Assessment completed by the OIT earlier in the year and develop a proposal for a more efficient and practical structure for information technology resources.
The order also calls for a spending moratorium on all IT expenditures to allow for the Governing Board and CTO to establish priorities and standards for executive branch information technology expenditures, as well as completion of the proposed restructuring and consolidation plan. The CTO will be required to submit to the Governor and Legislature an annual report detailing the work and progress of Information Technology.
