Lemuel Stewart to be Virginia's CIO

The Virginia Information Technology Investment Board has tapped Lemuel Stewart Jr., a former director of the Virginia Department of Information Technology, to be the state's chief information officer, the board announced today.

He begins work under a five-year contract Feb. 1.

Stewart is president of the consulting firm Executive Partners of Glen Allen, Va. He has more than 30 years' experience in the information technology field and has worked in the public and private sectors.

Active in state government IT, in addition to serving as director of the Virginia Department of Information Technology under Gov. Charles Robb, Stewart also is a past member of several technology standards, advisory and policy associations.

Stewart's private-sector credentials include stints as president of the EDI Healthcare Services Division for Quadramed Corp., San Francisco, and as president of Health Communication Services Inc. for Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Virginia, now Anthem Inc, Indianapolis, Ind.

As state CIO, Stewart will oversee operation of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. The agency, which was created by the 2003 Virginia General Assembly, is charged with carrying out Gov. Mark Warner's reform efforts, including consolidation of IT equipment and services, and oversight of nearly $500 million in annual IT investments.

Also on his agenda are development of plans for monitoring IT trends and advances, and for acquisition, management and use of IT by state agencies.

Stewart will receive a $165,000 salary.