U.S. C.I.O. to serve joint fellowship at Harvard

Vivek Kundra, the U.S. chief information officer at the White House for the past two and a half years, will serve a joint fellowship this fall at Harvard University. Kundra will split his time between the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. In addition to carrying out independent research at the Berkman Center, Kundra will collaborate with the center in its research activities in the areas of cloud computing, open data, and open government. At the Shorenstein Center, Kundra’s research will focus on the implications of digital media and technology on governance.

“We are excited to welcome Vivek Kundra to Harvard,” said Alex Jones, director of the Shorenstein Center. “His extensive background in information technology, strategy and government operations will provide a valuable new lens through which to examine many of the important issues that the Center is committed to exploring.”

“We are delighted that Vivek Kundra will be joining the Berkman Center community,” said Urs Gasser, executive director of the Berkman Center. “We look forward to working closely with him on cutting edge issues where the complexities of cloud computing intersect with law, institutions, and data.”

Kundra was appointed as the United States chief information officer by President Obama in March 2009. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Kundra served in Mayor Fenty’s cabinet as the CTO for the District of Columbia and Governor Kaine’s cabinet as assistant secretary of commerce and technology for the commonwealth of Virginia. He has also served in leadership roles in the private sector.