Computerworld
Quick Menu
Search



Ads by TechWords

See your link here


Subscribe to our e-mail newsletters
For more info on a specific newsletter, click the title. Details will be displayed in a new window.
Computerworld Daily News (First Look and Wrap-Up)
Computerworld Blogs Newsletter
The Weekly Top 10
More E-Mail Newsletters 
Computerworld 2007Subscribe to Computerworld
40 years of the most authoritative source of news and information for IT leaders.

Q&A: Homeland security CIO Steven Cooper

 

Sign up to receive Business Intelligence Resource Alerts

July 23, 2002 (Computerworld) -- Steven Cooper, the new CIO of the White House Office of Homeland Security, spoke this week with Computerworld about the challenges he faces as he works to pull together information and resources from disparate federal agencies for the fight against terrorism. Cooper, a former CIO at Corning Inc. in Corning, N.Y., joined the Bush administration in March.

Q: What are the first projects you're going to be tackling?
A:
We're starting on two parallel tracks. Our job is national in scope. It's not just federal. As a result, while the initial work will focus on the federal agencies that will comprise the Department of Homeland Security, what we really need to do is look at all the end-to-end business processes of homeland security as they also interact with state and local governments, private sector and citizens.

Q: Is adopting metadata standards a key to that?
A:
That's part of it. That's how we have to ensure that linkage to things outside the federal government. There's a huge difference between these wonderful proclamations we make about XML now being the latest generation's silver bullet. But come on, let's get real guys; this industry has been trying to pull this thing together for 40 years, and we still haven't gotten it right. And it isn't about the ability to technically connect stuff; that's simple. I can hook networks together. I can hook applications together. I can hook databases together. What about the exchange of information in a meaningful manner? Now we're talking about something completely different.
So one of the things that we have to figure out is a way to drive -- not because we're going to get it right first shot out of the box -- a dialogue across a broad community at large where we can very quickly begin to figure out where we have agreement and where we don't. Let's leverage where we have agreement. And I am talking about metadata standards, and I am talking about the meaningful content of the information we need to integrate. Where we don't, let's figure out a way to either engage the right standards organizations. Although they tend to do good work, it takes a little bit of time. Or can we create some intergovermental/industry working groups? Not because anyone's going to issue a federal mandate or make it a law, but because we think these are ways people can collaborate and work together.

Q: Of course, XML standardization work has been a slow, tortuous process. Can you afford to be that patient?
A:
What I would like to see is we could get the right folks together and reach some type of consensus that's basically a win-win for everybody involved. That's the ideal. Now, if that doesn't work in a time frame where we need to accomplish some things, I do think we may [have] to move to: If you're going to interact with the federal government, then here is the format, here are the XML tags, here is how you send it to us. Then yes, it is going to become a little less flexible.
We're talking about homeland security. We're fighting a war. We're talking about protecting lives and property. There is an urgency around this. So, getting the balance right, we will probably err on the side of: If we think it's taking too long, we're going to move forward. And that may upset some people, but hopefully it will be a small subset.

Q: And we're talking XML here, not electronic data interchange (EDI)?
A:
I think we're talking primarily XML because that's where we have the least investment thus far, therefore the highest probability of not messing up legacy stuff where people have sunk a lot of money.
Could we use EDI in communication of information that's already well established? Yes. I'm not sure I'd call it leading edge or bleeding edge, but it works.

Q: What will be the role of the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (CIAO)?
A:
It is tasked with the primary responsibility of critical-infrastructure protection. As such, it is, we believe, an excellent place to house the information integration program office.
I, being in the White House Office of Homeland Security, really act in an advisory role, not an operation role. CIAO director John Tritek acts in an operation role. I provide strategic guidance and basically help establish the key objectives, performance measures, critical success factors, those types of things. John will have the primary responsibility for ensuring that the office is in fact operating to the objectives and goals that we have jointly established.







Print this Story Send Us Feedback E-mail this Story Digg! Digg this Story Slashdot this Story
"Data warehousing appliance vendor -- and recent Microsoft Corp. acquisition -- DATAllegro Inc.'s CEO Stuart Frost responded to the patent..." Read more...
"Open-source database MySQL isn't the first platform most companies think of when considering a business intelligence platform. Yet, the Sun..." Read more...
Read more Business Intelligence posts or See all Blogs
Microsoft warns of IE8 lock-in with XP SP3
Image Gallery: 'Fashion' PCs hit the catwalk
Apple whips rivals in consumer purchase plans
Steve Jobs' death greatly exaggerated; Bloomberg obit a mistake
Microsoft reveals IE8 Beta 2
Trade body to hear Microsoft complaint against Taiwan company
European court won't stop U.K. hacker's extradition to U.S.
Panasonic and Sony tout plasma, LCD TV plans at IFA show
Air traffic network glitch cleared up -- for now
As SSD factories explode, memory prices plummet
More top stories...
Scented, other 'fashion' PCs hit the catwalk
Best Western forced to play defense on data breach disclosure
Target agrees to $6M settlement of accessibility lawsuit
Apple confirms iPhone security bug, promises patch
Review: Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 offers some nifty new features
Sprint's WiMax service to include local features
Veoh ruling bolsters YouTube effort to fend off $1 billion Viacom suit
iPhone gets two AT&T data plans for international travelers
Microsoft Office Live Small Biz suffers outage, possibly lost e-mail
McCain's online reach surges in days before Dem convention
Here are 15 devices and add-ons that make the back-to-school computing experience extraordinary.
As Facebook-like apps infiltrate the enterprise, they're integrating the workforce in unforeseen ways.
If you want to expand the visual capabilities of your laptop, you can add two monitors without spending a lot of time or money.
The latest iteration of Asus' groundbreaking mini-notebook adds a faster CPU, a larger display and a better keyboard.
Reviews, analyses, how-tos, visual tours, hot issues and predictions about Microsoft's new OS.
Four years from now, the IT field will be a vastly different place. Will you be ready?
All Zones
Application Performance Zone
Business Continuity Zone
The File Data Management Zone
Security Management Zone
ITIL Best Practices Zone
The SAS Zone
Business Intelligence and Analytics Zone
Windows Protection Zone
Identity & Security Management Zone

Ads by TechWords

See your link here
Speeding the time to intelligence
Get this Computerworld report free for a limited time, compliments of SAS.
Time To Intelligence -- a concept defining how long it takes to get accurate and timely information into the hands of workers who need it most. Do it slower than your competitors and your company is toast. Do it faster, you scorch them. Business Intelligence is the key to optimizing Time To Intelligence, and success there is a combination of people, policies, and technology.
Download this executive briefing download
From Laggard to Leader: Transforming the Data Center
From Laggard to Leader: Transforming the Data Center
Register for this complimentary live webcast today!
Go to the webcast 
Rapid application development, rapid results
Download this special report now!
(Source: Intersystems) All too many businesses suffer from IT infrastructures that are a hodge-podge of disconnected databases and applications. What's needed is the ability rapidly develop connected applications under a unified service-oriented architecture. InterSystems Ensemble integration environment and Cache database are effective tools in answering this need, delivering a rapid ROI.
Download this white paper go
White Papers
Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services.
Dynamic Capacity Management for Virtualized Environments
Five Technologies Simplifying Infrastructure Management
Cut Data Center Energy Costs
View more whitepapers 

SAS Information Management Kit

SAS is the leader in business intelligence and analytical software and services. Only SAS offers leading data integration, storage, analytics and business intelligence applications within a comprehensive enterprise intelligence platform. SAS gives 97 of the top 100 companies in the 2007 Fortune 500 THE POWER TO KNOW®.

Webcast: The Information Management Roadmap
Imagine high-quality data, cleansed, analyzed and delivered throughout your organization. Join Computerworld, IT visionary Thornton May and a panel of experts to learn how SAS® can help you make it happen.

View this webcast 
Research Report: Information Management Initiatives at Midsize and Large Organizations
See the top-line results of this Computerworld sponsored survey to see how IT and business leaders are handling information management implementation.

Download this report 
White Paper: Information Management: Better Information for Winning Decisions.
This white paper explains how the SAS Information Evolution Model aids companies in assessing how they use this information to make strategic decisions and drive business.

Download this white paper