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Raj Iyer

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Raj Iyer
Official Portrait, 2020
Chief Information Officer
In office
November 2020 – February 2023
DeputyDr. David Markowitz
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byLeonel Garciga

Raj Iyer (born 1970) is an American business executive who served as the United States Army's first chief information officer from November 2020 to February 2023.[1] He became the highest ranked Indian-American in the United States Army's history, holding a civilian rank equivalent to a three-star General Officer.[2][3]

Education

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Iyer received his bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from India's National Institute of Technology in 1992,[4] after which he pursued graduate school in the United States. He completed his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington[5] in 1994, and then continued on to receive a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1997.[5] His research focused on automated recognition of complex features for virtual prototyping. Iyer also received an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in 2009.[6]

Career

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Iyer founded the first Chief Technology Officer office in the Army Materiel Command, co-founded a successful technology startup, and led recovery efforts like Healthcare.gov. Additionally, he holds a patent and has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers.[7]

Iyer spent over 15 years in the private sector. This included co-founding a software startup company,[3] as well as a management consultant for Deloitte Consulting LLP.[7]

Iyer also spent over 12 years in public service. This included a stint of over 9 years at the US Army Materiel Command at both Warren, Michigan and Huntsville, Alabama, and several leadership positions at the US Department of Health and Human Services[3] leading the implementation of Healthcare.gov under the Affordable Care Act.

Iyer was selected as the chief information officer and appointed as a member of the Senior Executive Service by Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy after the former Army CIO/G-6 organization was separated into two new organizations - the Deputy Chief of Staff G-6 and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Iyer departed as the Army CIO in February 2023 after the completion of his term in office. His farewell ceremony at the Pentagon was officiated by Undersecretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo. “The Army is very lucky to have had Raj in this role as our first CIO,” said Camarillo. Camarillo commented on understanding the “degree of difficulty” Iyer faced in standing up a new office, creating a new position from scratch and figuring out what works and what doesn't.[8]

As Army CIO, Iyer led more than 15,000 IT professionals and more than 10,000 service members, providing oversight and support to the Army's $18 billion spend on IT and cyber.[8] Iyer led IT reform and digital transformation of the Army. He spearheaded adoption of cloud, information technologies, and data analytics, all of which were designed to help the Army gain digital overmatch. Additionally, these initiatives are changing the workforce and the workplace, making it easier to access critical information.[8]

Iyer established the Army's Digital Transformation Strategy (ADTS)[9] to drive Army-wide transformation. Signed by the secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, the strategy directed all Army Commands and units to work with the Office of the CIO to implement the strategy to achieve the Army of 2030.[10][11][12]

Iyer led the strategy for the Army's unified network in partnership with the DCS G-6[13][14] LTG John Morrison to integrate the Army's tactical, enterprise and mission partner networks.[15] and a transformation of the Army's garrison networks to WiFi and private 5G.[16][17]

Iyer established a new organization in the Office of the CIO dedicated to the cloud mission called the Enterprise Cloud Management Agency.[18] This field operating agency enabled the OCIO to implement and support a number of Army-wide cloud initiatives under the cARMY program[19] under the new Army Cloud Plan.[20]

The CIO also established a new Army Data Plan[21] in partnership with the Army Chief Data Officer David Markowitz, who also served as his deputy.[22] Under Iyer's leadership, the Army implemented the Vantage Army Data Platform in partnership with Palantir.[23]

Iyer led a complete overhaul of the Army's cybersecurity program through a new Army Cybersecurity Strategy[24] that required the Army to move to a zero trust architecture as mandated by the Department of Defense CIO.

Iyer meets with Romanian Defense Chief

Iyer was best known for the relationships he built internally within the DoD, with the Joint forces, and with allies and partners globally. He was a close partner and advisor to Army units such as the 82d Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, 101st Airborne Division, I Corps, Multi Domain Task Force, US Army Pacific,[25][26] US Forces Korea, US Army Europe and Africa,[27] and others. He was an active participant in Army exercises such as Forager 21 in Guam,[28] Project Convergence, Defender Europe and others. He also built the foundation for greater collaboration and interoperability with allies in the British Army, Japan Ground Self Defense Forces, NATO, Romania, Italy,[29] Poland, India and others.

Iyer served as tri-chair of the Army Enterprise Business Systems - Convergence (EBS-C) Multi Functional Coordinating Team Executive Committee where he helped shape the technology and acquisition strategy for the Army's modernization of its Enterprise Resource Planning systems.[30] In this role, he championed for divestment of legacy business systems and adoption of a modern "clean core" ERP system. He worked with Army senior leaders to prioritize $1.4 Billion in funding for the program in 2022.[31]

Published works

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Recognition

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  • Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, awarded by the secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, February 2023[8]
  • 2022 Washington 100 Award for Cloud Migration and Digital Strategy Leadership[32]
  • 2023 DefenseScoop 50 Award[33]
  • 2022 Fedscoop 50 Golden Gov Executive of the Year Award[34]
  • 2021 FedScoop 50 Golden Gov Executive of the Year Award[35]
  • 2022 WashingtonExec Pinnacle Award for Cloud Executive of the Year Award[36]
  • National Institute of Technology Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Administration, 2022[37]
  • 2021 FedScoop Best Bosses in Federal IT Award[38]

References

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  1. ^ Barnett, Jackson (2020-11-19). "Raj Iyer joins Army as first civilian CIO". FedScoop. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  2. ^ "Indian-American Becomes US Army's First Chief Information Officer". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  3. ^ a b c SiliconIndia. "Dr. Raj Iyer Becomes First CIO of the US Army". siliconindia. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  4. ^ "NIT Trichy presents Distinguished Alumni Award to Raj Iyer". New India Abroad. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  5. ^ a b "Engineering Alumni Spotlight: Raj Iyer". Engineering Alumni Spotlight: Raj Iyer - College of Engineering - The University of Texas at Arlington. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  6. ^ "Raj Iyer". 2024 Defense News Conference. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  7. ^ a b "Army gets new Chief Information Officer". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  8. ^ a b c d "Army, DoD leaders bid farewell to CIO". www.army.mil. 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  9. ^ "Army Digital Transformation Strategy to create a more lethal, ready force". www.army.mil. 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  10. ^ "Army's new digital strategy looks well beyond nuts and bolts of IT modernization". federalnewsnetwork.com. 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  11. ^ "Army CIO details digital strategy, changes for IT enterprise". Nextgov.com. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  12. ^ "Army Gets Strategic About Going Digital". Nextgov.com. 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  13. ^ Beinart, Matthew (2021-12-14). "Army Officials Detail 2022 Priorities For Digital Transformation Strategy, Unified Network Plan". Defense Daily. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  14. ^ "Unified network operations underpins Army's digital transformation". www.army.mil. 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  15. ^ "Army pilots leasing model for commercial satellite communications". www.army.mil. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  16. ^ "PEO EIS conducts Army's first comprehensive network modernization at Fort Belvoir". www.army.mil. 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  17. ^ "Data at the point of need: Army unifies, accelerates network modernization efforts". www.army.mil. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  18. ^ "Army's Enterprise Cloud Management Office Transitions Into Field Operating Agency; Raj Iyer Quoted". 2021-03-31. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  19. ^ "The Army's Longtime Cloud Chief Looks Back—and Forward". Defense One. 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  20. ^ "Army announces new 2022 Cloud Plan". www.army.mil. 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  21. ^ "Army announces consolidated Data Plan". www.army.mil. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  22. ^ Edwards, Jane (2022-10-14). "Army Unveils Plan to Transform Into Data-Centric Organization; CIO Raj Iyer Quoted". Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  23. ^ "Army Leaders Highlight Value of PEO EIS Programs | PEO Enterprise". www.eis.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  24. ^ Gill, Jaspreet (2022-10-11). "After months of waiting, Army finally unveils its updated cloud, data plans". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  25. ^ "Distributed C2 Concept to Address the Pacific Theater". www.army.mil. 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  26. ^ "Leaders convene in Wiesbaden to discuss cyber's role in defense". www.army.mil. 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  27. ^ "Army CIO speaks at Army Europe and Africa 2022 Cybersecurity Summit". www.army.mil. 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  28. ^ "Chief Information Officer for U.S. Army Visits Forager 21". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  29. ^ "Cloud Strategy, U.S. Army Chief Information Officer in Rome". ACN. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  30. ^ "Army hosts EBS-C Industry Day". www.army.mil. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  31. ^ "Raj Iyer: Army to Invest $1.4B in ERP System Modernization". GovCon Wire. 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  32. ^ "Raj Iyer, Army CIO, Selected to 2022 Wash100 for Cloud Migration & Digital Strategy Leadership". GovCon Wire. 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  33. ^ "Announcing the 2023 DefenseScoop 50". DefenseScoop. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  34. ^ "Announcing the winners of the 2022 FedScoop 50". FedScoop. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  35. ^ Mitchell, Billy (2021-10-05). "Announcing the 2021 FedScoop 50 awards winners". FedScoop. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  36. ^ Writer, Staff (2023-01-11). "2022 Pinnacle Awards Winner Raj Iyer Announces Army Departure | WashingtonExec". Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  37. ^ "NIT Trichy presents Distinguished Alumni Award to Raj Iyer". New India Abroad. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  38. ^ "FedScoop announces the Best Bosses in Federal IT 2022". FedScoop. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
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