After Scott Blackburn resigned from the Department of Veterans Affairs April 17, the agency tapped Camilo Sandoval, the former director of data operations for President Donald Trump's campaign as its new acting CIO, according to FedScoop.
Here are six things to know.
1. Mr. Blackburn resigned as acting VA CIO, effective immediately, April 17. The agency hasn't had a permanent CIO for over a year, after LaVerne Council resigned with the change in administrations in January 2017.
2. The VA's decision to pick Mr. Sandoval is controversial. He initially served in the Department of Treasury, where he was reportedly ostracized to a basement office amid conflict with career staff.
3. Mr. Sandoval — an Air Force veteran — eventually moved to the VA and was a key figure in reports on the agency's internal power struggle that eventually resulted in the departure of Secretary David Shulkin, MD.
4. Mr. Sandoval became embroiled in a lawsuit filed by a former campaign worker, Jessica Denson in November, that accused him of slander and sexual harassment, according to FedScoop.
5. The VA told FedScoop Mr. Sandoval has been working as a senior adviser to the undersecretary for health since May 2017, where he was tasked with improvement efforts including EHR modernization and telehealth.
6. The agency added it is currently vetting a permanent assistant secretary for information and technology.
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