New National CTO Plans to Expand Lean Thinking to All Federal Agencies

If Todd Park can find entrepreneurs in federal agencies and unleash a flood of health data, leaders in big hospitals and pharma companies can also use startup techniques to change business as usual. Park says that with his new promotion, he will seek out entrepreneurs in all governmental agencies to expand the success Health and Human Services has had with open data initiatives.

“This has been the most entrepreneurial experience of my life over the last two years,” he said. “HHS has allowed me to keep doing what I do: apply lean startup principles in the public sector.” Until last Friday, Park was the chief technology officer of HHS. He starts his new job as chief technology officer of the United States in a week’s time. His first speaking engagement since the announcement was Saturday at SXSWi. He spoke with Mason Phillips, director of digital strategy at the White House.

Park said he has found the most success by first finding people in HSS who had ideas on how to do things better and recruit them into a team. “I told them my job was to provide the air cover for you to do what you have always wanted to do,” he said. “Then we’ll use Silicon speed and style to get things done.”...