Longtime Chief Information Officer Joseph Klimavicz is leaving the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and taking over as CIO of the Justice Department, DOJ announced late last week.
The position has been vacant since November 2013 when Luke McCormack stepped down to become CIO at the Department of Homeland Security. Deputy CIO Kevin Deeley has been serving as acting CIO during the search for McCormack’s replacement and will continue as deputy CIO.
Klimavicz is a veteran in the federal IT arena, best known for leading NOAA through many of its data center consolidation, cybersecurity, cloud and IT modernization initiatives.
“Joe has the leadership and technical skills needed to oversee the Justice Department’s information management and technology programs,” Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole said. “Joe is well-positioned to lead the department’s efforts to continue to enhance our cybersecurity protections and our law enforcement sharing programs.”
In his seven years as CIO at NOAA, Klimavicz was recognized for his excellence in leadership, and his work upgrading the agency’s IT and advanced computing infrastructure.
At Justice, Kimavicz will be responsible for leadership and oversight of IT services and programs in support of the department’s “technology-intensive” law enforcement mission, according to a DOJ release.
Prior to joining NOAA in 2007, Klimavicz served as deputy CIO at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from December 2003 to January 2007. His career in the federal government spans 25 years, including various roles in the Defense Department.
