EDS executive appointed Virginia secretary of technology

George Newstrom, an executive with Electronic Data Systems Corp., has been appointed by Virginia Gov.-elect Mark Warner to serve as the state's secretary of technology, the governor's office announced Jan. 3.


Newstrom is a senior vice president and president of Asia Pacific information solutions for EDS of Plano, Texas.


Don Upson, the current secretary of technology, will continue to serve until Newstrom takes over March 1.


In announcing his selection, Warner described Newstrom as a leader in the Northern Virginia technology community.


"I want Virginia to be known as the state that gets the information age right, and [Newstrom] is already one of the people who's making that happen," Warner said in a press release.


Newstrom, who joined EDS in 1974, is in charge of the company's operations in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia. Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. He also has run EDS federal government business.


Newstrom serves on the board of directors of the Information Technology Association of America, is chairman of the board of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance and serves as co-chairman of the statewide Virginia Technology Council.


In past years, Newstrom chaired the 1998 World Congress on Information Technology hosted by Fairfax County, Va. He also was vice chairman of the Northern Virginia Technology Council's Board of Directors and a member of its executive committee.


In addition, Newstrom has participated in leadership roles in the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Advisory Board and the National Commission on Restructuring the Internal Revenue Service.


While serving as NVTC Board of Directors' vice chairman, Newstrom "had the vision and foresight to focus on a technology agenda that promoted economic growth throughout the commonwealth and improved the quality of life for Virginians," said Bobbie Kilberg, NVTC chairman.