On Sept. 11, 2001, Steve Cooper, then chief information officer for Corning Inc., was speaking at a CIO forum aboard a ship sailing under a British flag in New York harbor. After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Coast Guard asked the ship, because it was under a foreign flag, to go out to open sea. One day and 200 hundred miles later, Cooper and the passengers disembarked in Boston. Angry, Cooper -- who had served in the Navy during the Vietnam era -- tried to figure out what he could do personally to make a difference in the new national situation.
What it does: The Agriculture Department is largely associated with keeping a watch on the nation's food, particularly to ensure the safety of meat, poultry and egg products. It runs federal food and nutrition programs, such as food stamps, school breakfast and lunch programs and the Women-Infants-Children program. It monitors animal and plant safety and health. It protects national forests and grasslands and encourages conservancy of soil, water and wildlife on private lands; provides housing and conveniences to rural America; leads research on food and nutrition matters; and assists farmers and the hungry worldwide.
<b>Vital statistics</b><br><b>Address:</b>Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E St. NW , Washington, D.C. 20415-0001 <br><b>Telephone:</b>(202) 606-2424<br><a href:"http://www.opm.gov">www.opm.gov</a><br><b>Founded:</b> 1979<br><b>Director:</b> Kay Cole James<br><b>Employees:</b> Approximately 3,700<br>
The NRC is responsible for protecting the public and the environment from the effects of radiation from nuclear reactors, materials and waste facilities through regulations, security, licensing and monitoring.
<b>Address:</b> 409 3rd Street SW, Washington, DC 20416<br><b>Telephone:</b> (800) U-ASK-SBA<br><b>Web site:</b> www.sba.gov<br><b>Founded:</b> 1953<br><b>Administrator:</b> Hector Barreto <br><b>Employees:</b> 3,026 permanent employees, 1,221 temporary employees for disasters<br><b>What it does:</b> SBA provides financial, technical and management assistance to help start, run and grow small businesses. It is the largest single financial backer of such businesses, and provides loans, loan guarantees and disaster loans worth more than $45 billion. It also has a venture capital portfolio of $13 billion. <br><b>Major subagencies:</b> 93 field offices nationwide
The biggest challenge faced by the Environmental Protection Agency is the need to integrate information across multiple levels of government. CIO Kimber Nelson is looking for talented contractors ready to take on that task.
The biggest challenge faced by the Environmental Protection Agency is the need to integrate information across multiple levels of government. CIO Kimber Nelson is looking for talented contractors ready to take on that task.
What it does: HUD, created as part of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty, is responsible for national policy and programs regarding housing. It addresses community housing needs and enforces fair housing laws. It provides rental and housing assistance for those in need, and underwrites mortgage insurance programs for people of lower and moderate income to help them become homeowners.
The Coast Guard is one of the nation's five armed services. Its job is a unique weaving of military, law enforcement and service to civilians via international waters and America's coasts, ports and inland waterways.
The FAA is something like the "DMV of aircraft." It establishes air-worthiness standards, inspects and licenses civilian aircraft, regulates air traffic, investigates accidents and puts forth safety rules. It promotes the national airport system.
NSF is an independent federal agency. It promotes progress in science and engineering research and education. It awards grants and fellowships for study at all education levels, and sponsors exchanges with other nations for the advancement of science.
Karen Evans, chief information officer - The department fosters a secure and reliable energy system that is environmentally and economically sustainable. It is the trustee of the nation's arsenal of nuclear weapons and supports U.S. contributions to science and technology.
What it does: NASA's mission is to advance the exploration, use and development of space, expand scientific knowledge of the Earth, the solar system and the universe, and research, develop and transfer advanced aeronautics, space and related technologies.
A Senate committee July 19 unanimously approved Hector Barreto's nomination to be the next head of the Small Business Administration. The nomination now moves to the Senate floor for confirmation.
