Justice Department Announces Luke J. McCormack as New Chief Information Officer

The Department of Justice today announced that Luke J. McCormack will become its new chief information officer (CIO), arriving in late March. McCormack will provide leadership and oversight of the department’s information technology programs and services in support of the department’s technology-intensive law enforcement mission.

McCormack will replace Vance Hitch who left the department in August 2011. Eric R. Olson, deputy CIO, has served as acting CIO since Hitch’s departure. Olson will continue to serve as deputy CIO.

“Luke has the expertise needed to oversee the Justice Department’s information management and technology programs, and I am pleased to welcome him in this new role,” said Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole. “I’m confident that under his leadership the department will continue to enhance its cybersecurity, enterprise network and law enforcement sharing programs in a cost-effective way – while fulfilling our most critical missions. I would also like to thank Eric Olson, our acting CIO, for his hard work and outstanding dedication to these efforts during this transition.”

The Office of the CIO provides strategic direction, management services, and oversight to cross-component information technology efforts, and provides IT infrastructure services such as telecommunications, desktop and data center services, and IT security.

Prior to joining the department, McCormack was the CIO of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since July 2005. In that capacity, he was responsible for all aspects of the information technology portfolio, including strategic planning, enterprise architecture and cybersecurity. During his tenure at ICE, he strengthened the agency’s cybersecurity and infrastructure operations and modernized a variety of business systems.

McCormack served as acting director of DHS Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) infrastructure services division from January 2004 to July 2005. While there, he managed the design, implementation and operation of the customer information technology infrastructure. McCormack has served in other roles in CBP, including director of architecture and engineering, and as director of systems engineering.

He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Secretary of Homeland Security’s silver award–the second highest award at DHS–and a presidential meritorious award for his outstanding efforts in information technology. McCormack received his M.B.A. from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business in 2005. A native of Long Island, N.Y., Mr. McCormack has two sons and resides in Virginia.