1.3.1 CIO Responsibilities - Laws and Executive Orders

CIOs are responsible for assessing agency IT workforce needs and developing strategies and plans for meeting those needs. This section lists the statutory responsibilities of CIOs related to the IT workforce. The statutory language is directly pulled from applicable laws and executive orders. These statutory responsibilities are then implemented through OMB guidance and guidance from other government- wide organizations. This language, along with the language in other sections under the heading “CIO Responsibilities - Laws and Executive Orders,” defines the CIO role and gives the CIO their statutory mandate.

Personnel-Related Authority
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for each covered agency... the [CIO] of the covered agency shall approve the appointment of any other employee with the title of [CIO], or who functions in the capacity of a [CIO], for any component organization within the covered agency. (40 U.S.C. §319(b)(2). Additional easement authority.)

The [CIO] of an agency (A) assesses the requirements established for agency personnel regarding knowledge and skill in information resources management and the adequacy of those requirements for facilitating the achievement of the performance goals established for information resources management; (B) assesses the extent to which the positions and personnel at the executive level of the agency and the positions and personnel at management level of the agency below the executive level meet those requirements. (40 U.S.C. §11315. Responsibility for Acquisitions of Information Technology. Agency Chief Information Officer.)

The head of each agency shall designate a [CIO] who shall report directly to such agency head to carry out the responsibilities of the agency under this subchapter. (44 U.S.C. §3506. US Federal Information Policy. Federal Agency Responsibilities.)

Knowledge and Skills for IT Personnel
The CIO assesses and advises the agency head regarding knowledge and skill standards established for agency IT personnel. (40 U.S.C. §11315(c)(3). Agency Chief Information Officer. Duties and Qualifications & EO 13833. Enhancing the Effectiveness of Agency Chief Information Officers. May 2018.)