Mendenhall award bestowed upon DiPentima

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. ? One of the first CIOs in the government, at the Social Security Administration, and someone who helped launch the federal CIO Council, Renny DiPentima has long been considered the dean of the IT community.

DiPentima retired after 32 in government and began working for SRA Inc. of Fairfax, Va., and quickly established his open-door policy to advise current and former federal officials.

For his dedication to improving the IT community, the American Council for Technology and the Industry Advisory Council bestowed the 2006 Janice K. Mendenhall Spirit of Leadership award last night to DiPentima at the Executive Leadership Conference.

"Renny exemplifies the A in IAC," said Bob Suda, associate CIO for the Agriculture Department, who presented DiPentima with the award. "He treats everyone with respect, importance and fairness."

DiPentima was surprised by the award. "I'm a very lucky person having spent 32 years at an agency I love and still do," he said after accepting the award. "I made a wise decision to change one letter and join SRA. I work with a superb group of people that have allowed me to lead them."

DiPentima joins other recipients, including Howard Ady, a former Defense Department executive, Sandy Bates, a former General Services Administration commissioner of the Federal Technology Service and the Army's Kevin Carroll.

IAC/ACT also handed out five other awards:

Rookie of the Year: Carey Bandler, Fsona Systems Ltd. of McLean, Va.

Government Contributor of the Year: Ira Hobbs, Treasury CIO

Industry Contributor of the Year: John Okay, J.L. Okay Consulting of Oak Hill, Va.

Conference Chairman Awards: Gary Wetterhall, Army, and Bruce McConnell, McConnell and Associates of Washington.

Jason Miller is assistant managing editor of Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.