An experienced leader of government technology oversight, Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia,  is being named Hawaii’s first full-time chief information officer.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Tuesday chose Bhagowalia for the job of upgrading the state government’s aging computer and technology systems.

Bhagowalia will lead a seven-person information technology office tasked with improving public online services, making government more efficient and saving money.

Bhagowalia  currently serves as the deputy associate administrator for the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies in the U.S. General Services Administration. He previously held two chief information officer roles within the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Abercrombie also signed a bill into law spending about $1.2 million annually for operations of the state Office of Information Management and Technology.

——— 

Online: 

HB1060: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/