Six federal CIO roles, and every one of them secured by an intentional process, hard work, and homework. Brian and Sean sit down with Dr. Barry West, founder of West Wing Advisory Services and program chairman of the Government Business Executive Forum, who led IT at the National Weather Service, at FEMA through Hurricane Katrina, at the Department of Commerce, and at PBGC. Barry traces a path from Air Force weather observer to technical lead on FirstGov, the site that became USA.gov, and explains why today's CIO has to operate as a mission executive who turns business requirements into outcomes while managing risk.
The conversation gets practical fast. Barry lays out the six attributes every CIO needs, the reality check executives face when they move to industry and have to flip the switch, and why a GS-15 chasing SES should attack the job like a capture plan, with ECQs, metrics, GAO reports, and strategic plans studied cold. Sean shares mentorship stories from CBP and the FBI, and all three make the case for associations, a plan B and plan C, health, and financial planning at every stage of a career. Plus, the band that gets the lead out.Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Featured Guest
• Dr. Barry West, Founder and President, West Wing Advisory Services
• Government Business Executive Forum (GBEF)
• Homeland Security and Defense Forum
Where Barry Served
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
• National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
• USA.gov, launched as FirstGov with Barry as technical lead
Associations and Communities
• ACT-IAC, formerly FGIPC, which Barry led as president
• AFFIRM, where Barry is a past president
• AFCEA International and Young AFCEANs
• ATARC
• Partnership for Public Service
Career Development and the Path to SES
• OPM Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)
Barry's Six Attributes of the Modern CIO
• Strategist
• Technologist, including cyber, AI, and LLMs
• Builder of business alliances across the mission
• Talent manager
• Lifelong learner
• Communicator who can brief in two minutes, not 40 pages
Also Mentioned
The Hosts and Show
• Swish