VanRoekel led USAID digital communications efforts in 2011 during a famine in the horn of Africa before he was appointed by President Barack Obama as the second U.S chief information officer in Aug. 2011. During his time with the administration, he co-founded the new U.S. Digital Service, a program to help find solutions and eliminate challenges that can prevent progress in IT delivery.
He also previously served as managing director of the Federal Communications Commission, overseeing the agency's operational, technical, financial and human resources and leading FCC efforts to adopt social media and new technology.
VanRoekel will help harness technologies like open data and mobile platforms to reach communities and households with life-saving information to help stop the Ebola outbreak, said Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator. No information was provided on when he will start the new role.
The Obama administration announced Tuesday it planned to commit additional resources to the Ebola fight, including more than $500 million and 3,000 U.S. military personnel to support fragile health infrastructures in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Financial and volunteer support have trickled in at a much slower pace during this crisis than for previous disasters.
As VanRoekel begins his new role, U.S. Deputy Administrator Lisa Schlosser will oversee the Office of E-Government & Information Technology in the interim, the White House said. Additionally, administrator Mikey Dickerson will oversee the U.S. Digital Service.
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