CATEGORY 5 - GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SERVING OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
IT MODERNIZATION DIVISION
Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Information Technology Policy
U.S. General Services Administration
THOMAS SANTUCCI
Director
KIRAN BALSA
Deputy Director
MARK BELLINGER
EARL BISEL
Trainer
LAURA CULLUM
LEE ELLIS
IPv6 Lead
MAYA VISHWANATH
STEVE NAUMANN
Data Center SME
The IT Modernization Division, part of the General Services Administration’s Office of Government-wide Policy, is being recognized for enhancing federal IT services by modernizing essential systems. Their work focuses on guiding federal agencies through the adoption of cloud computing and modern IT infrastructure. This transition not only reduces costs associated with IT operations but also improves the accessibility and security of services provided to the public.
The Division supports this modernization through various means, including providing strategic guidance, technical expertise, and creating useful resources such as playbooks and best practice guides. They manage the Cloud & Infrastructure Community of Practice (C&I CoP), which connects over 3,000 federal IT professionals and offers valuable training and networking opportunities. The Division’s no-cost training programs, conducted in partnership with industry experts, save federal agencies substantial amounts in training expenses and enhance the skills of IT staff.
Additionally, the Division plays a key role in policy implementation and support, initially focusing on data center consolidation and now overseeing broader IT modernization policies like the Federal Cloud Computing Strategy and IPv6 adoption. Their efforts include developing minimum requirements for data center operations and facilitating community feedback to ensure that new policies address agency needs effectively.
These achievements benefit the public by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of federal services. For instance, the Division’s training programs saved $3.5 million in FY23 and received high satisfaction ratings, indicating a positive impact on federal staff capabilities. The Division’s summits and community sessions further promote knowledge sharing and collaboration across agencies, driving innovation and enhancing public service delivery.