Louisiana's first CIO sets goal

• By Dibya Sarkar
• Mar 12, 2001

Louisiana's first-ever chief information officer says consolidating information

technology systems and electronic government services would be among his

top priorities.

"Louisiana's agencies have always operated as independent business units,

and each had their own IT areas," said 34-year-old James DuBos, a Baton

Rouge native and a former technology executive. "This is a big step for

the governor," he said.

DuBos, who started his new job Feb. 5 after being appointed by Gov.

Mike Foster, said he would coordinate IT across the executive branch's 15

agencies, encourage common systems and operating platforms, and make government

processes more efficient.

"We'll have an enterprisewide strategic plan," DuBos said. "The planning

process that is already under way is taking those 15 organizations and compiling

an inventory and assessment of the state."

That includes establishing IT standards and guidelines for hardware,

software, services, contractual agreements and consolidation of management

systems, in-depth assessment of individual agencies, deploying common systems,

and data and network integration. DuBos will oversee business technology

planning, IT procurement and budgeting, as well as personnel and telecommunications

systems.

He said that Foster, who created the CIO position through a 1998 executive

order, is committed to downsizing government and that technology is going

to play a significant role in doing so. The state also is planning to develop

a government portal this year and deliver more e-government services to

citizens and businesses, he added.

In 1992, DuBos co-founded R&D Networking Inc., a technology consulting

firm in the Southeast and co-founded a Baton Rouge-based Internet service

provider, PremierOne Inc., in 1995.

In 1997, he became vice president for

Cohesive Technology Solutions, a national IT consulting firm, which was

subsequently purchased by Exodus Communications, a leading Web hosting service

provider. He was a managing director with Exodus when he left in May 2000

to spend some time with his family.

He accepted the state position because, as a lifelong Louisiana resident,

he wanted to give something back to his community.