| Despite increased demand for high-caliber leadership in | | | | business acumen and competitive, market-driven |
| all segments of the technology community, it wasn't | | | | experience. Although some candidates decline these |
| until fairly recently that we saw the migration of top | | | | opportunities because of compensation, we have |
| information technology executives between the | | | | been able to fill positions with strong candidates with |
| federal and corporate sectors. | | | | exceptional private-sector experience. |
| Hank Philcox went from the Internal Revenue Service | | | | In the current soft market for IT executives, |
| to become chief information officer at DynCorp, and | | | | agencies have an opportunity to attract outstanding |
| Renny DiPentima moved from the Social Security | | | | candidates. Opportunity, challenge and relative stability |
| Administration to SRA International Inc., where he | | | | are as important as compensation. If an influx of |
| became president of SRA Federal. It has quickly | | | | talent from the commercial world is brought in, we |
| become clear that federal IT leadership experience | | | | can expect to see continuing changes to the federal |
| laid the foundation for their success. | | | | IT marketplace. |
| As far back as the late 1970s, there were some | | | | The most notable change that will eventually accrue |
| non-political appointments into federal IT leadership | | | | is bridging the perception gap between the two |
| roles. And in the late 1980s, Janet Barnes moved | | | | communities. As more experienced private-sector |
| from MCI to become the first designated federal CIO | | | | executives flow through the federal community, |
| at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. In recent | | | | there will be an increasing number of examples to |
| years, more high-profile federal positions have been | | | | follow. Eventually, at least in the Washington, D.C., |
| filled from outside government, with candidates | | | | area, there may well be a much-improved respect |
| coming from such companies as Oracle Corp. and | | | | for federal executives and significantly increased flow |
| FedEx Corp. Although critics complain that the | | | | of executives in both directions. |
| average tenure of these federal appointees is only | | | | The downturn in the dot-com and |
| two years, the reality is that the tenure of | | | | telecommunications sectors in the local marketplace |
| private-sector CIOs is no different. | | | | means the greatest hiring needs for IT executives |
| Federal agencies now commonly utilize executive | | | | are with federal systems integrators. Those firms |
| search firms to recruit key IT talent. My firm, | | | | should more aggressively seek out federal IT leaders |
| Paul-Tittle Search Group, has effectively recruited | | | | who already understand that business from the |
| CIO-level executives, program managers and senior | | | | "client" side. The strategic technology leadership role |
| technologists from outside government. Our clients, | | | | of the senior IT executive today is very similar in the |
| particularly at the major defense/intelligence agencies, | | | | private and federal sectors. |
| are interested in hiring candidates with strong | | | | |