On Dec. 11, GovCon industry luminaries, healthcare thought leaders and experts will gather at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Healthcare Summit to give insight into the challenges facing the industry, including the rise of artificial intelligence, navigating the changing regulatory landscape, harnessing the power of data analytics and more.
As one of the event’s keynote speakers, Jennifer Wendel, acting chief information officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will share her thoughts on the future of the healthcare industry as it continues to transform. You won’t want to miss this conversation, so secure your tickets now!
Jennifer Wendel’s Background
Wendel took on the position of acting chief information officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, in December 2023. In her role, Wendel manages the department’s $7 billion information technology portfolio and supports the agency’s expansion mission to improve Americans’ health and well-being.
Prior to being appointed acting CIO, Wendel served as deputy chief information officer for HHS, overseeing IT systems and security activities for a workforce of over 83,000. Wendel is also a member of the federal government’s senior executive service.
Wendel’s FBI Career
Before joining HHS, Wendel had a long and productive career with the FBI.
“For 26 years, I worked with talented and dedicated friends and colleagues to protect the American people and uphold the constitution at the FBI,” Wendel said in a LinkedIn post. “It was a bittersweet week as I packed up my office, said farewell to many, and celebrated a diverse and rewarding career.”
Wendel started her career with the FBI in 1996 and has held numerous other roles within the bureau, including section chief of enterprise IT management, chief of the executive staff unit within the criminal investigative division and supporting the assistant director in administering new initiatives for the unit.
During the early portions of her tenure with the FBI, Wendel served as a biologist managing forensic DNA cases, interpreting DNA profiles, reporting the results and testifying as a DNA expert in court. She then became the chief of the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, unit and the National DNA Index System.
Wendel was tasked with developing, deploying and operating the CODIS software to federal, state and local crime laboratories in the United States.
Jennifer Wendel’s Notable Achievements
Wendel has 20 years of experience leading digital transformation across various industry avenues and is using that knowledge to spearhead modernization at HHS.
Here are some of the accomplishments Wendel has achieved during her career thus far:
- Directed 192 U.S. federal, state and local crime labs and 88 international law enforcement labs.
- Built a high-performance team to facilitate large-scale projects through sustainable personnel and business operations.
- Exceeded FBI unit objectives following a 35 percent staffing loss due to a hiring freeze.
- Reengineered daily reporting model to streamline operational workflow and enterprise-wide communications.
- Led the development and deployment of advanced software packages and four service enhancements across 280 laboratories.
Jennifer Wendel to Keynote 2024 Healthcare Summit
Jennifer Wendel will deliver a keynote address on Dec. 11 to conclude the 2024 Healthcare Summit. The summit will feature officials from all facets of the healthcare world, and this conversation will be essential to advancing the healthcare industry in the future.
Register for your spot before it’s too late to join the conversation with Wendel and other healthcare leaders.
