As the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief information officer, Chris Smith is responsible for all information technology investments. Smith also serves as the deputy chief information officer for operations for the USDA Office of the Chief Information Officer and provides leadership for USDA’s cybersecurity operations and the department’s operational portfolio, including network, enterprise data centers, international technology services, and innovations and operational architecture.
Before joining the OCIO leadership team in 2008, Smith served USDA as chief information officer for Rural Development where he provided leadership and executive strategic direction. Prior to working with Rural Development, Smith held the position of chief information officer to the chief financial officer of the United States General Services Administration. There, he led shared services IT operations and operated one of four named Financial Management Lines of Business Centers of Excellence and one of four named ePayroll operations within the federal government.
Smith received his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of South Florida, and he also holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from George Washington University.