NAMED AS USDA'S FIRST CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
                                            Release No. 0294.97


                                  Laura Trivers    202-720-4623
                                         laura.trivers@usda.gov
                                  Martha Cashion   202-720-3310
                                        martha.cashion@usda.gov

REED NAMED AS USDA'S FIRST CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

     WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced that Anne F. Thomson Reed has been named as the first chief
information officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Reed has been
acting in that position since its establishment in August 1996, as required by
the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 (ITMRA).

     As CIO, Reed is responsible for assuring that information technology is
acquired and information resources are managed effectively; for developing and
maintaining a sound and integrated information technology architecture for
USDA; and for monitoring the performance of USDA's information technology
programs.  With annual investments of over $1 billion, information management
is a critical component of USDA program delivery.

     "Anne Reed has demonstrated her ability to deal with thorny, complex
issues as she has gone about the task of establishing the office of the chief
information officer in her acting capacity and getting a firm handle on the
management of information resources," Glickman said.  "We have instituted some
tough policies as we seek to improve how we integrate technology investments
and strategies with our program goals."

     During the past year, Reed's focus has been on implementing the
provisions of ITMRA, changing the decision-making process for information
technology investments at USDA, developing an information technology
architecture for USDA, cutting telecommunications costs by improving
management processes, and solving issues relating to the Year 2000 conversion. 
As part of an overall administrative convergence strategy, she is responsible
for planning the merger of information technology functions for three USDA
agencies in headquarters and the field.    

     "Under my authority, we will be implementing measures to ensure that we
coordinate interagency IRM projects, implement standards within USDA to
promote information exchange and technical interoperability, and make
technology investments which are business-driven, economical, and effective,"
Reed said.  "The Secretary and I are committed to doing business differently
and have begun to put into place a number of management improvements and
modernization initiatives that will serve USDA well for the future."

     Reed was recently recognized as the 1997 Government Executive of the
Year by the Federation of Government Information Processing Councils for her
contributions to the public sector information technology community.
                                
                                
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