Nitin Pradhan
Encyclopedia
Nitin Pradhan was sworn in on July 6th, 2009, as the Departmental Chief Information Officer
(CIO) for the US Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the Obama Administration. Pradhan is the chief advisor to Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood
relating to information technology. In his role as the Departmental CIO, Pradhan provides information technology vision, strategy, planning, policy and oversight for DOT's more than $3.0 billion IT portfolio , the 6th largest in the Federal Government
. DOT has over 55,000 employees and $70 billion in budget. Prior to joining DOT, Pradhan was an IT Executive at Fairfax County Public Schools
(FCPS), the 12th largest school district in USA. Earlier, Pradhan was the Managing Director of Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) . He has also been the co-founder and CEO of a wireless startup. Pradhan’s personal blog is titled “Winning Through Technology.”
, India
, Pradhan attended Loyola High School (Pune)
where he was known as an avid sportsman focused on athletics, soccer, and field hockey. After high school, Pradhan attended the Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
, India where he completed his bachelor's degree in engineering. He followed this degree with master's in marketing management from University of Pune
, India. After his masters, Pradhan started his technology career in India by establishing and growing one of the most profitable divisions of International Data Management Ltd., (IDM) in India. Pradhan came to Washington, DC on a graduate fellowship from the Kogod School of Business
at The American University
(AU), to study for his second master's – this time in accounting.
s (CIOs) have a dual role to play as Chief Innovation Officer
s. This aspect focuses on creating innovation lifecycle within organizations consisting of ideation and crowd sourcing tools like DOT’s IdeaHub , a process for selection of best ideas, and a cloud based agility platform for quick deployment of “apps” that drive business value. Finally, he has promoted the concept of new IT—IT 2.0 as he calls it—is based on providing significant business value
immediately. He is a strong proponent of using technology to deliver business results for example, using emerging innovations like Intelligent Transportation Systems and DOT’s Connected Vehicles Program designed to leverage vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), driverless car
s, and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) wireless communication in order to make driving safer by making cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles aware of the vehicles around them – even if the drivers aren't.
, Pradhan researched and experimented in using Internet for business. This was the era where Internet browsers were yet to be invented and Internet itself was primarily a research and education tool. This pioneering effort helped him launch one of the first online businesses in early 90s and while his online company did not succeed, this early experimentation was vital in him joining Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and later becoming its Managing Director. At CIT, Pradhan co-led in the creation and implementation of Virginia's first industry led Information Technology and Telecommunication's Strategic Plan in partnership with leading industry, university and government executives. He helped secure funding and established and expanded technology centers of excellence focused on increasing Internet utilization in partnership with Virginia
universities, government and companies. He was also a mentor for entrepreneurs and startups seeking to build profitable companies around Internet technologies. Pradhan also championed bold innovative initiatives launched in the DC metro region in the mid-nineties including Potomac Knowledge Way and Netpreneur established by the Morino Institute and the creation and expansion of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) a membership and trade association for the technology community in Northern Virginia, now the largest technology council in the nation, currently serving about 1,000 organizations. After CIT, Pradhan co-founded a wireless startup and was the CEO in early 2000.
Pradhan's interest in technology and its potential for positive impact on the education sector attracted him to join Fairfax County Public Schools
(FCPS), the 12th largest school district in USA. During his tenure, he promoted digital innovation and technology based solutions as an answer to educational challenges and opportunities and helped transform the organization in to a premier technology integrated educational institution. He started innovative initiatives like the Technology@Home which helped Fairfax County students, faculty and staff members purchase technology products directly from vendors at educational discount rates and Vendor Technology Briefings to match cutting edge educational technologies with the needs of FCPS. During this time FCPS IT was listed tenth in top 100 best places to work by Computer World magazine and was the only K12 organization in the CIO 100 list published by CIO magazine.
Modernization of the National Airspace System
Called NextGEN which upgrades the system from older ground based radars to satellite and GPS based systems.
Intelligent Transportation System
Connected Vehicles Program that improves vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure safety via wireless communications between them.
's The Government CIO 50: Driving Change In The Public Sector national award for bringing a business person's point of view to management of the DOT's IT strategy, policy, and implementation. Under Pradhan’s leadership, US Department of Transportation IT has also earned InformationWeek
500 IT Innovators Awards including one for an Open Government initiative and the other for FAA's NextGen and the White House
Open Government Leading Practices Awards designation in two of the four award categories, including "Leadership, Governance, Culture Change" and "Flagship Initiative." ComputerWorld
magazine named Pradhan to Premier 100 award list where he joined an elite group of top US IT executives. The Premier 100 was created in 2000 to spotlight individuals who have made a positive impact on their organization through their work in technology. Each year, 100 honorees are selected to receive this life time recognition award .
Chief information officer
Chief information officer , or information technology director, is a job title commonly given to the most senior executive in an enterprise responsible for the information technology and computer systems that support enterprise goals...
(CIO) for the US Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the Obama Administration. Pradhan is the chief advisor to Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood
Ray LaHood
Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood is a Republican politician from Illinois who is currently the United States Secretary of Transportation, having served since 2009. Previously, he represented the Illinois's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms .-Early life and...
relating to information technology. In his role as the Departmental CIO, Pradhan provides information technology vision, strategy, planning, policy and oversight for DOT's more than $3.0 billion IT portfolio , the 6th largest in the Federal Government
Federal government
The federal government is the common government of a federation. The structure of federal governments varies from institution to institution. Based on a broad definition of a basic federal political system, there are two or more levels of government that exist within an established territory and...
. DOT has over 55,000 employees and $70 billion in budget. Prior to joining DOT, Pradhan was an IT Executive at Fairfax County Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools
The Fairfax County Public Schools system is a branch of the Fairfax County government which administers public schools in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax...
(FCPS), the 12th largest school district in USA. Earlier, Pradhan was the Managing Director of Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) . He has also been the co-founder and CEO of a wireless startup. Pradhan’s personal blog is titled “Winning Through Technology.”
Early life and education
Born and brought up in PunePune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Pradhan attended Loyola High School (Pune)
Loyola High School (Pune)
Loyola High School is a Jesuit school situated in Pune, India, founded in 1961, running primary, secondary and pre-university education. The school takes its name from St. Ignatius of Loyola, a sixteenth century saint, who was recognized for his devotion to education and is best known for founding...
where he was known as an avid sportsman focused on athletics, soccer, and field hockey. After high school, Pradhan attended the Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, commonly referred as M. S. University , is a university in the city of Vadodara, in Gujarat state, India...
, India where he completed his bachelor's degree in engineering. He followed this degree with master's in marketing management from University of Pune
University of Pune
The University of Pune , is a university located in northwestern Pune, India. It was founded in 1949. Spread over a campus, the university is home to 46 academic departments...
, India. After his masters, Pradhan started his technology career in India by establishing and growing one of the most profitable divisions of International Data Management Ltd., (IDM) in India. Pradhan came to Washington, DC on a graduate fellowship from the Kogod School of Business
Kogod School of Business
The Kogod School of Business, commonly referred to as Kogod, serves as the undergraduate and graduate business school at American University in Northwest Washington, DC. Kogod is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business . Kogod offers undergraduate and graduate degree...
at The American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
(AU), to study for his second master's – this time in accounting.
IT philosophy
Pradhan’s IT philosophy is focused on people first, innovation, agility and driving business value. He believes that technology is first about people. Technology based Innovation is his second theme. He believes that Chief Information OfficerChief information officer
Chief information officer , or information technology director, is a job title commonly given to the most senior executive in an enterprise responsible for the information technology and computer systems that support enterprise goals...
s (CIOs) have a dual role to play as Chief Innovation Officer
Chief innovation officer
A chief innovation officer or CINO is a person in a company who "originates new ideas but also recognizes innovative ideas generated by other people."...
s. This aspect focuses on creating innovation lifecycle within organizations consisting of ideation and crowd sourcing tools like DOT’s IdeaHub , a process for selection of best ideas, and a cloud based agility platform for quick deployment of “apps” that drive business value. Finally, he has promoted the concept of new IT—IT 2.0 as he calls it—is based on providing significant business value
Business Value
In management, business value is an informal term that includes all forms of value that determine the health and well-being of the firm in the long-run...
immediately. He is a strong proponent of using technology to deliver business results for example, using emerging innovations like Intelligent Transportation Systems and DOT’s Connected Vehicles Program designed to leverage vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), driverless car
Driverless car
An autonomous car, also known as robotic or informally as driverless, is an autonomous vehicle capable of fulfilling the human transportation capabilities of a traditional car. As an autonomous vehicle, it is capable of sensing its environment and navigating on its own...
s, and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) wireless communication in order to make driving safer by making cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles aware of the vehicles around them – even if the drivers aren't.
Pre US DOT CIO
While studying at the American UniversityAmerican University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, Pradhan researched and experimented in using Internet for business. This was the era where Internet browsers were yet to be invented and Internet itself was primarily a research and education tool. This pioneering effort helped him launch one of the first online businesses in early 90s and while his online company did not succeed, this early experimentation was vital in him joining Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and later becoming its Managing Director. At CIT, Pradhan co-led in the creation and implementation of Virginia's first industry led Information Technology and Telecommunication's Strategic Plan in partnership with leading industry, university and government executives. He helped secure funding and established and expanded technology centers of excellence focused on increasing Internet utilization in partnership with Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
universities, government and companies. He was also a mentor for entrepreneurs and startups seeking to build profitable companies around Internet technologies. Pradhan also championed bold innovative initiatives launched in the DC metro region in the mid-nineties including Potomac Knowledge Way and Netpreneur established by the Morino Institute and the creation and expansion of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) a membership and trade association for the technology community in Northern Virginia, now the largest technology council in the nation, currently serving about 1,000 organizations. After CIT, Pradhan co-founded a wireless startup and was the CEO in early 2000.
Pradhan's interest in technology and its potential for positive impact on the education sector attracted him to join Fairfax County Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools
The Fairfax County Public Schools system is a branch of the Fairfax County government which administers public schools in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax...
(FCPS), the 12th largest school district in USA. During his tenure, he promoted digital innovation and technology based solutions as an answer to educational challenges and opportunities and helped transform the organization in to a premier technology integrated educational institution. He started innovative initiatives like the Technology@Home which helped Fairfax County students, faculty and staff members purchase technology products directly from vendors at educational discount rates and Vendor Technology Briefings to match cutting edge educational technologies with the needs of FCPS. During this time FCPS IT was listed tenth in top 100 best places to work by Computer World magazine and was the only K12 organization in the CIO 100 list published by CIO magazine.
US Department of Transportation Chief Information Officer
In 2009 Pradhan joined DOT as its CIO. His focus at DOT has been on using technology to drive business value , IT portfolio optimization , streamlining technology services , creating an IT business catalogue and Online distribution(app store) , holistic cyber security and public private partnerships like the Digital Transportation Ecosystem (DTE) . Some of the DOT technology initiatives include:Modernization of the National Airspace SystemNational Airspace SystemThe National Airspace System of the United States is one of the most complex aviation systems in the world — consisting of thousands of people, procedures, facilities, and pieces of equipment — that enables safe and expeditious air travel in the United States and over large portions of the world's...
(NAS)
Called NextGEN which upgrades the system from older ground based radars to satellite and GPS based systems.Intelligent Transportation SystemIntelligent transportation systemThe term intelligent transportation systems refers to information and communication technology that improve transport outcomes such as transport safety, transport productivity, travel reliability, informed travel choices, social equity, environmental performance and network operation...
(ITS)
Connected Vehicles Program that improves vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure safety via wireless communications between them.Modernizing Analog 911 Systems (E911)
To the next generation digital VOIP 911 systems capable of receiving and sending internet protocol based voice, video and text.Professional recognition
At the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pradhan earned the prestigious national InformationWeekInformationWeek
InformationWeek is a weekly print magazine, an online site with corresponding face-to-face and virtual events, and research. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California and was first published in 1979 by CMP Media, later called CMP Technology. On February 29, 2008, CMP Technology was...
's The Government CIO 50: Driving Change In The Public Sector national award for bringing a business person's point of view to management of the DOT's IT strategy, policy, and implementation. Under Pradhan’s leadership, US Department of Transportation IT has also earned InformationWeek
InformationWeek
InformationWeek is a weekly print magazine, an online site with corresponding face-to-face and virtual events, and research. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California and was first published in 1979 by CMP Media, later called CMP Technology. On February 29, 2008, CMP Technology was...
500 IT Innovators Awards including one for an Open Government initiative and the other for FAA's NextGen and the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Open Government Leading Practices Awards designation in two of the four award categories, including "Leadership, Governance, Culture Change" and "Flagship Initiative." ComputerWorld
Computerworld
Computerworld is an IT magazine that provides information for senior IT leaders. It is published in many countries around the world under the same or similar names. Its publisher is International Data Group. Computerworld serves the needs of IT management via print and online...
magazine named Pradhan to Premier 100 award list where he joined an elite group of top US IT executives. The Premier 100 was created in 2000 to spotlight individuals who have made a positive impact on their organization through their work in technology. Each year, 100 honorees are selected to receive this life time recognition award .
External links
- United States Department of Transportation (DOT)
- DOT Office of the CIO
- Nitin Pradhan US DOT | CIO.GOV Bio
- US DOT IT Spending - DOT
- Information Week: The Government CIO 50 - Driving Change In The Public Sector
- The White House Leading Practices Awards for Open Government - US DOT Winner
- ComputerWorld Premier 100 Honoree
- Winning Through Technology Blog