Former Peace Corps Staff Member Gopal Khanna Represents New Breed of Public CIO



Khanna has degrees in economics, mathematics and political science from his native India. He earned an MBA in the U.S. and steadily climbed the corporate ladder with various positions in New York, Florida and Minnesota, before joining the George W. Bush administration in Washington, D.C. He held senior executive policy positions, culminating in the posts of CIO and CFO at the Peace Corps.

Former Peace Corps Staff Member Gopal Khanna Represents New Breed of Public CIO

Gopal Khanna: NASCIO President Represents New Breed of Public CIO

Mar 3, 2009, By Tod Newcombe

Gopal Khanna is a new kind of public CIO -- one who adroitly blends public- and private-sector service, IT know-how and modern business management skills to create a more dynamic role within government.

Khanna has degrees in economics, mathematics and political science from his native India. He earned an MBA in the U.S. and steadily climbed the corporate ladder with various positions in New York, Florida and Minnesota, before joining the George W. Bush administration in Washington, D.C. He held senior executive policy positions, culminating in the posts of CIO and CFO at the Peace Corps.

In 2005, Khanna joined Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Cabinet as state CIO, where he made a mark both within the state and nationally as a business- and tech-savvy IT executive who has worked quickly and tirelessly to align Minnesota's technology investments with the governor's agenda. While most of the initiatives Khanna led haven't been headline-grabbing, they include the sort of work that lays the foundation for moving Minnesota into the 21st century in terms of better services and a better-run government.

Video: NASCIO urges better support for critical IT systems.

However, one initiative does stand out. Khanna hashed out a series of IT requirements that have standardized how laptops, desktops, servers and storage systems are procured and are saving the state more than $20 million annually.

In 2008, Khanna was elected president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers by his peers, capping a stellar career and highlighting his ascendancy as one of America's premier public CIOs.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: March, 2009; Staff; Peace Corps Headquarters; Information Technology; Information Technology

When this story was posted in June 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Read how RPCV's rallied and and marched to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age.

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May 30, 2009: Peace Corps' Roadmap Peace Corps' Roadmap for the Future 26 May Who are the Candidates for Peace Corps Director? 24 May Have French Atomic Tests put PCVs at Risk? 1 May Obama asks Congress for 10% increase in PC Budget 7 May Guy Consolmagno debunks "Angels & Demons" 22 May Obama praises Dodd at credit card signing 22 May John Garamendi front runner in California primary 22 May Al Kamen writes: New management structure at PC HQ? 22 May Damian Wampler's play Twin Towers opens in NYC 21 May Michael Volpe learns that DC is networking capital 21 May Dr. Mike Metke returns to Costa Rica 10 May Jesse Fleisher Lives well on less 14 May Al Kamen writes: PCVs peak at 11,000 under Obama Budget 11 May James W. Kostenblatt is making a difference in Mozambique 10 May Karen and Warren Master host Kyrgyzstan teen 9 May Alberto Ibargüen writes: The Future of Newspapers 9 May PC Monitor 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in Mexico 1 May Paul Theroux writes: Obama and the Peace Corps 1 May Johnnie Carson to head State Department African Affairs 29 Apr Michael O'Hanlon writes: Grading Obama's First 100 Days 29 Apr Amy Potthast writes: The Peace Corps Lottery 23 Apr Read more stories from April and May 2009.

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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