Minnesota names Khanna CIO
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) has named Gopal Khanna, a former federal chief information officer, to serve as the state's first CIO.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) has named Gopal Khanna, a former federal chief information officer, to serve as the state's first CIO, the governor's office announced this week. Khanna begins work Aug. 15.
Khanna served in the Bush administration both as CIO and chief financial officer (CFO) of the Peace Corps. While serving as CIO from 2002 to 2003, he helped establish a standardized computing platform for the agency's 72 posts worldwide and created an enterprise architecture program. After he was appointed CFO one year later, he helped transform the Peace Corps' accounting and financial management systems.
Pawlenty created the Cabinet-level position of CIO to provide leadership for the state government's IT and telecommunications resources and policies, as well as to serve as the principal technology adviser to the governor.
Through internal restructuring, Khanna will lead the newly created Minnesota Office of Enterprise Technology, with a budget of $83 million and staff of more than 300. Minnesota spends about $600 million per year on IT.
Khanna holds a bachelor's degree in economics, mathematics and political science from Christ Church College in Kanpur, India, and a master's in business administration from the University of Maine.