Lawrence takes Army CIO helm

After months of speculation and waiting, the Army has a new CIO.

Lt. Gen. Susan Lawrence, who has been special assistant to Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli, was formally appointed as the new CIO/G-6 on March 3. She replaces Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson, who retired in November. In the interim, deputy CIO Mike Krieger has been filling in.

Before her recent Pentagon assignment, Lawrence served as commanding general, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command, Ft. Huachuca, Ariz.

"Right now, the network is the Army's number one modernization effort," Lawrence said. "We want a network that can provide soldiers and civilians information of all categories and forms, as well as a means to collaborate in real-time, at the exact moment required, in any environment, under all circumstances."

Lawrence will report directly to the secretary of the Army and will be responsible for setting strategic direction and objectives, and as well as supervising all Army command, control, communications, and computers and IT functions. As the G-6, Lawrence will support the Army chief of staff of the and other Army staff in performing information management, network operations (including computer network defense), force structure, and the equipping and employment of signal forces. She will oversee a $10 billion IT annual budget, the release said.

Lawrence has served as the commanding general, 5th Signal Command, while also serving as the CIO/assistant chief of staff, G-6 for the U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army. She commanded the 7th Signal Brigade, 5th Signal Command, prior to serving as chief of staff and vice director, J-6, Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. She also served as the director, command and control, communications and computer Systems, J-6, U.S. Central Command.