Flyzik, Key Fed IT Manager, RetiringFlyzik, Key Fed IT Manager, Retiring

HERSHEY, PA.--After 28 years, one of the most influential IT managers in government, Jim Flyzik, will retire from government Dec. 17.

Flyzik, who began his career as a computer programmer for the Secret Service during the Watergate scandal, rose through the ranks of the Treasury Department to become its CIO seven years ago. Seven months ago, homeland security director Tom Ridge tapped Flyzik to be his special adviser on IT.

At a press conference at a government IT conference here Monday, Flyzik cited his mentoring of homeland security CIO Steve Cooper as one of his major accomplishments related to the homeland-security agency. Cooper had been CIO at Corning Inc., and though well-versed on business-technology issues, he wasn't familiar with how agencies employed IT.

Flyzik has served as vice chairman of the federal CIO Council since 1997. The CIO Council is an assemblage of senior federal departmental and agency CIOs tasked with developing governmentwide IT programs, systems, and standards. It's chaired by Mark Forman, the associate director for IT and E-government at the Office of Management and Budget. The vice chair comes from the ranks of departmental CIOs. A new vice chair will be named by the council Nov. 20, the next time the group meets, Flyzik said.

Flyzik is an instrumental player in developing a system--due to be implemented by year's end--to integrate 55 terrorist watch lists. "It's about integrating information to get that information from the watch lists to the right people at the right time so they can make informed decisions," said Flyzik, who added there were no immediately plans to fill his slot at homeland security, though other IT managers from government will be called upon to help out.

Flyzik said he didn't know what kind of work he'll pursue in the private sector upon his retirement. He had thought of retiring a year ago but put that on hold after the Sept. 11 terror attack. Instead, he was recruited to help lead efforts to combat terrorism using IT. "Clearly," he said, "I wanted to be part of that."