Thomas Flagg stepped into the Education Department’s chief information officer (CIO) role this week to fill the agency’s top tech position that had sat vacant for six months.
The department’s former CIO, Luis Lopez, stepped down from his role in March, joining the private sector after 16 years in the Federal government. Lopez now serves as the VP of IT operations at Inova Health.
Flagg stepped into his new post at the Education Department on Oct. 6 after more than a decade at the Department of Labor (DoL). Most recently, Flagg served as the head of DoL’s Directorate of Business Application Services.
“I am thrilled to welcome Thomas Flagg as chief information officer at the U.S. Department of Education,” Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said. “His extensive experience in business and information technology and proven track record of driving innovation will be invaluable as we continue to advance our mission and enhance our digital capabilities across the entire Department.”
She continued, “Mr. Flagg’s leadership will be instrumental in guiding our agency through the complexities of today’s technological landscape, ensuring that we deliver the highest level of service to our nation’s schools, colleges and universities, students, borrowers, and families.”
Flagg has over two decades of business and IT experience both from government and the private sector. Before joining the Senior Executive Service and working for the Labor Department, he directed IT for the agency’s Wage and Hour Division. He was also a supervisory IT specialist and technical and management advisor to the director of IT within DoL’s Office of Workers Compensation Programs.
Before joining the Federal service 11 years ago, Flagg held numerous IT-related positions in the private sector from 1998 to 2013.
Despite the absence of a permanent CIO, the Education Department’s FITARA grade rose from a “C” to an “A” on the most recent scorecard released last month.
In the March iteration of the scorecard – announced just before Lopez’s departure – the Education Department was recognized at MeriTalk’s FITARA awards for the “Best in Cyber” category. The department received an “A” in this category. The agency maintained its “A” grade for cyber in last month’s iteration of the scorecard as well.
