Home Obama Names Former Entrepreneur U.S. CTO

Obama Names Former Entrepreneur U.S. CTO

President Barack Obama named a former entrepreneur who took a healthcare company public with a capitalization of more than $1 billion the new U.S. Chief Technology Officer on Friday.

Todd Park, 39, was semi-retired in 2009 when Obama asked him to be the chief technical officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. When he was 24, Park founded Athenahealth. He stepped down after taking the company public to spend more time with his family.

Park, who is credited with leading the creation of the HealthCare.gov Website, was specifically tapped for his previous role because of his expertise in managing data and was charged with using HHS’s “mountains of data” to its full potential, according to a 2011 Atlantic profile. In his new position the role will be expanded to do the same thing for the entire federal government.

“I’m very excited that President Obama today is appointing Todd Park as the new U.S. Chief Technology Officer, with the important task of applying the newest technology and latest advances to make the Federal government work better for the American people,” John P. Holdren, assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, wrote in a blog post announcing Park’s appointment.

Obama created the position on his first full day in office. The first U.S. Chief Technology Officer, Annesh Chopra, resigned last month.

The White House is expected to discuss Park’s new position when it makes a presentation Saturday at South By Southwest.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.