After almost a year without a permanent IT leader at the helm, the Census Bureau finally has a new CIO, stealing an information security officer from another Commerce Department component.

Kevin Smith, who until recently served as the CISO at the Patent and Trademark Office, is taking over as Census CIO this month, the agency said in a June 6 release. In this role, Smith will lead the bureau's IT modernization efforts, including preparing for the 2020 decennial census.

Smith is well positioned to lead these efforts, having worked on similar modernization projects at PTO.

"Kevin Smith has the exact skill set and experience the Census Bureau needs," Director John Thompson said, announcing his appointment. "He's been an IT leader in both government and the private sector, making him uniquely qualified to lead our technological transformation."

Along with his public sector experience, Smith was an IT consultant for Fortune 100 and 500 companies, among others.

The bureau initially advertised for the position in November to fill the spot vacated by former CIO Brian McGrath. McGrath took over as the CIO at the Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs last July.

Deputy CIO Harry Lee has been serving in an acting capacity since McGrath's departure.

About Aaron Boyd

Aaron Boyd is an awarding-winning journalist currently serving as editor of Federal Times — a Washington, D.C. institution covering federal workforce and contracting for more than 50 years — and Fifth Domain — a news and information hub focused on cybersecurity and cyberwar from a civilian, military and international perspective.

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