Maryland Governor Establishes "Maryland iMap"

On December 18, 2009, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed an Executive Order entitled "One Maryland - One Map; Maryland Integrated Map (MD iMap)" (PDF) that establishes an organizational structure to guide and coordinate inter-agency and intergovernmental efforts to share geospatial data and tools in Maryland.

The order identifies and defines the role of an Executive Committee, including the Secretaries of all the state's cabinet agencies, and formally identifies and defines the role of the State Geographic Information Officer (GIO) as well as that of the Technical Committee.

(NSGIC's own) Kenny Miller, who has been filling the role for all practical purposes for some time, is the designated GIO and will move later this year from his long-term home in Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Information Technology.

The executive order is focused on the creation of a "Maryland Integrated Map (MD iMap), which will serve as a statewide basemap and help state agencies to "better implement and coordinate policies across the State."

"The execution of the Executive Order has been a long time in coming and reflects the value of laying the foundation over the years to prepare for this eventuality. It also reflects the rapid increase in interest at the highest levels of State government in providing Marylanders with information of how their government allocates funds and where those funds are spent" reflects Kenny Miller, who becomes the State's first-ever GIO.

"The Maryland State Geographic Information Committee (MSGIC) began in the early 1990's to grow GIS technology and foster collaboration and communication to among the various partners. It wasn't until the O'Malley-Brown Administration began, in early 2007, to demand agencies use GIS to both target program efforts and funds and to measure progress that the interest on formalizing the governance and official capacity of the GIO really took root. This represents a win for all those who have labored to make this day a reality."

The Governor will provide strategic direction to the Executive Committee, which will be chaired by the Secretary of Information Technology. The Director of the Governor's StateStat office will be vice-chair.

The Executive Council, which  will be a "subcabinet" and will advise the Governor on all issues pertaining to the MD iMAP, will designate a Technical Committee, headed by the GIO, to oversee the day to day activities needed to create the MD iMAP.

NSGIC Member David Arbeit Named CGIO in Minnesota

In a move that surprised some in the state by its speed, Minnesota Commissioner of Administration Sheila Reger yesterday named David Arbeit as the state's first-ever Chief Geospatial Information Officer (CGIO). Mr. Arbeit had served as the director of the Office of Geographic and Demographic Analysis until this week.

His job change came on Wednesday morning, June 24, at a public meeting -- named "Point of Beginning" (PDF) -- called to introduce the new Minnesota Geospatial Information Office. The legislation (PDF) that created the office that was developed and passed just this year.

NSGIC President-Elect Will Craig, Associate Director at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, and long a leader in GIS in Minnesota, was there.

"The Commissioner of Administration was invited to say a few words, invited David forward, and anointed him before us all," reports Mr. Craig. "I don't think anyone expected it at yesterday's gathering. We had expected David to be anointed, but nothing official had happened or been announced until this public meeting."

The appointment, the second announcement of a GIO this year, was noted yesterday on the web site of Government Technology News, which took the opportunity to further explain the idea of a Geospatial Information officer (GIO):

Modeled after a chief information officer (CIO), the GIO position -- instituted in some federal agencies and this March in California -- has served to acknowledge the importance of geospatial data and its coordination.

Will Craig was pleased with the appointment and proud of his state's approach to GIS coordination.

"I think we've got something unique here," he explained. "Michael Terner, from Applied Geographics, says were are the only place that has a GIO that reports to a state-level advisory body composed of the all state agencies with significant GIS interests, such as the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Agriculture. It's a real federation, trying to find efficiencies by coordinating activities."

Mr. Terner and his company assisted the state in the drafting of A Program for Transformed GIS in the State of Minnesota (PDF) that called for the creation of the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office and the creation of the CGIO position.

GIO Michael Byrne Takes to YouTube to Outline his Approach in California

The YouTube Channel of the California Office of the CIO this week features a brief discussion by California GIO Michael Byrne, on his priorities as the state's new Geographic Information Officer.



The video is highlighted in an article on the Government Technology web site: GIS Helps State Understand "Unintended Things," Says California's Geographic Information Officer. The video runs nearly four minutes and includes a good overview explanation of GIS as well as a set of goals for the new GIO office.

(NSGIC's Own) Michael Byrne Named GIO of California

NSGIC Board member Michael Byrne has been named the state of California's first ever Geographic Information Officer (GIO).

Mr. Byrne will be charged with "ensuring that the state receives the benefits associated with geospatial data, specifically, increased data access and sharing; reduced duplication and costs; development of technology standards; centers of expertise; public outreach and increased collaboration in state and local governments."

The announcement included a statement from California CIO Teri Takai, who made the appointment:

"Establishing this position is a critical step in implementing a statewide strategy to more efficiently use geospatial data throughout state and local governments," said Takai. "There is a tremendous value in coordinating our resources so that we can share data and work toward more common systems to improve health, public safety, emergency preparedness, environmental protection and other services for the people of California. I am pleased to have Michael serve on our team in the Office of the Chief Information Officer."

Along with his seat on the NSGIC Board, Mr. Byrne is a member of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee, sits on the Board of GreenInfo Networks, and is Chair of the California GIS Council.

Hat Tip: Thanks to Adena Schutzberg for noting this story on All Points Blog.

Note to Self: Now we have to update Mike's bio on the Board pages.

California Opens A GIO Position

Last week, California opened an executive position in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) for a Geospatial Information Officer. This is big news for California, and comes nine months after the California GIS Council adopted a Strategic Plan (see http://cgia.org/CA%20StrategicPlan%20P2.pdf ) calling for a GIO.

The GIO will be responsible for ensuring that the State of California receives the benefits associate with Geospatial data, specifically,

• increased data access and sharing;
  
• reduced GIS duplication and costs;
  
• developments of GIS standards;
  
• Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) centers of expertise; public outreach; and
  
• increased collaboration.

We are enthusiastic about this development and look forward to good things to come from now having

1. an executive sponsor,
2. close ties with our Chief Information Officer, and
3. a Paid full-time coordinator.

The link for the job announcement and details for the application process is here.

A Discussion of the Roles of the GIO and the State GIS Coordinator

The latest Directions on the News podcast features a discussion of the implications of the recent announcement of plans to appoint a GIO (Geospatial Information Officer) for the Department of the Interior. Joe Francica and Adena Schutzberg explore two basic some questions about the idea: is there time to find the right person? And, what should be the role of a GIO for such a large agency?

Two models fro the GIO role were discussed. One is a CIO focused on geographic issues. Ms. Shutzberg noted that a CIO tends to be a technology leader, someone who focuses on the technology sides of things but not as much on coordination with other levels of government.

The other model is that of the GIS Coordinators who make up much of the NSGIC membership, whose role "tends to be more about ... being the champion for GIS in the state."

Ms. Shutzberg added that a State GIS Coordinator does have to have some technical savvy (and that some have a great deal of technical savvy) but that the coordinator role is broader.

"...unifying the troops. Getting the partnerships together. Creating the vision. Working with the Governor and other state agencies. And it is far more of a, dare I say, political sort of role."

Joe Francica added that the State GIS Coordinator also serves as a liaison between the local and federal levels.

Both agreed that the GIO for a large federal agency such as Interior will need to fit the political role, and be able to coordinate among agencies and levels of government, with strong technical know-how. They concluded that the new GIO will have to be a "high-powered individual" and that it is a real question whether or not there will be time to find and appoint the right person before the end of the current administration.

This podcast makes interesting listening for all of those who work with agencies within the Department of the Interior, for those who now work as GIOs and for those who are State GIS Coordinators. Our roles are growing and changing as we adapt the shifting geospatial industry and the rapid growth of the use and sharing of geospatial data and information.

A Call to CIOs for GIOs

TeleAtlas VP John Cassidy had an article in Government Technology recently making an argument in favor of adding GIOs to CIO offices to continue the expansion of GIS coordination in government.

In Enterprise GIS Strategies Strengthen Government Operations, Mr. Cassidy outlines some of the successes brought to government by the growth of well-coordinated GIS tools, data and processes. He goes on to suggest that CIOs can help things along with some basic guidelines:

• The success of a GIS application is more likely when it's considered a mission-critical IT system and an organization is built specifically to support that system. It's crucial to build a strategic plan to adopt GIS enterprisewide.
• Create a full-time GIS leadership position with a GIO who has adequate staff to build and enhance the enterprise GIS.
• Identify project leaders who have the necessary management and organizational skills to accomplish specific tasks, and motivate people on an interagency basis to overcome the resistance to change.
• Develop communication channels to identify and prioritize GIS application development and spread word of their success.
• Set reasonable goals that produce deliverables over short time frames, so quick results can be readily seen, used and appreciated.

Wisconsin Has a New GIO

The Wisconsin Mapping Bulletin has word today of the appointment of Curtis Pulford as Wisconsin's new Geographic Information Officer. Pulford, who has been GIS Coordinator for state's Department of Transportation, will start his now job on December 23. As near as I can tell, this has been announced to staff via e-mail; I have not yet found a news release.

Job Posting: Maine GIS Coordinator

The State of Maine is advertising for a Systems Group Manager for the Maine Office of GIS (MEGIS). This is a position that appears to be GIS Coordinator for the state.

The previous head of the Office, Dan Walters, has taken a job with the USGS. The job posting (WORD), on the Direct Hire page of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services web site, outlines the role of a GIS Coordinator:

As the System Group Manager, you will be responsible for directing the MEGIS program and facility, including designing and managing the GIS development plan, a general GIS database, managing the activities of MEGIS staff personnel, coordinating with other departments on GIS matters, facilitating statewide GIS policy with the interagency Stakeholders committee, and representing Maine State Government GIS outside of Maine State Government.

The job is in Augusta, Maine. The closing date on the job posting is November 2.

Idaho to Get a New GIO

Idaho Chief Technology Officer Kevin W. Iwersen has announced the hiring of a new Geospatial Information Officer. Gail Ewart will join the Idaho Office of the CIO as GIO in early December.

Ms. Ewart answered the job posting we noted here back in July. Her new role will be to "provide statewide leadership in promoting the use of GIS technology," as CTO Iwerson wrote in his announcement of the hiring.

Gail Ewart is moving to the Idaho job from the Oregon Geospatial Enterprise Office (GEO) where she was Oregon’s Framework Coordinator.

Directions on the News Podcast Previews 2007 NSGIC Annual Conference

Joe Francica and Adena Schutzberg, of Directions Media, have posted a 12-minute Directions on the News podcast that looks ahead to the 2007 NSGIC Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.

In their discussion, Joe and Adena review the importance of GIS Coordination at all levels of government and discuss the potential for the new position of GIO (Geographic Information Officer) to meet that need.

They explore the differences between the roles of a GIO and a data coordinator and various areas in which each needs to have some expertise, from the technical, to the managerial, to the political.

There is also a brief discussion of the need to develop new GIS leaders for the future. Adena notes the role that NSGIC is now playing in developing new state-level leaders. She also points to the new URISA Leadership Academy and to new aspects of some Masters in Geographic Information Sciences programs.

Updates from the GIS in the Rockies Conference

Joe Francica, of All Points Blog, is reporting this week from the GIS in the Rockies Conference and has posted some interesting notes from the Mile High conference site.

So far, he's reported on Jack Dangermond's Keynote Address, a discuss of Service Oriented Architecture for GIS and a multi-agency federal update that folks planning to attend the NSGIC Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, later this month may want to review.

There's also an announcement out of Colorado state government and NSGIC's own Jon Gottsegen that the state has opened its GIS Portal. Even more exciting is the announcement from Michael Locatis, Colorado's Chief Information Officer, "that Gottsegen's position was being elevated to that of a statewide Geographic Information Officer (GIO) that will report in through the Governor's office."

Well done, Jon!

Job Posting: Wisconsin GIO

The word is out, over on the Wisconsin Mapping Bulletin, that the Wisconsin Department of Administration is looking for a new Geographic Information Officer (GIO). Until recently, that post had been held by Dave Mockert (Dave's in the private sector now). The job announcement is posted on the DOA web site.

Job Posting: Idaho GIO

The State of Idaho has posted a Job Announcement for a Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) in the Office of the CIO:

The State of Idaho’s Office of the CIO is seeking a Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) to lead state government GIS efforts as well as serve as a collaborative leader for statewide GIS initiatives. This position will provide GIS direction and staff support to the state’s Information Technology Resource Management Council (ITRMC).

The job posting is open through July 23.