A new CIO is headed to FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has selected Steven McAndrews to take over as chief information officer, per multiple sources familiar with the matter. He will step into the role shortly after his last day as the National Nuclear Security Administration’s deputy CIO, which will be Aug. 21. Karen Sutton will fill the vacancy as acting deputy CIO at NNSA, per an agency spokesperson. McAndrews is well acquainted with government technology. In addition to stints at the U.S. Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget, he also worked at the Department of Homeland Security as an IT security specialist from 2018 to 2020, according to his LinkedIn. Zeke Maldonado, who has served as acting CIO at FEMA since February, will drop back to the deputy CIO seat to assist in the transition.

Defense Department leaders instructed 30 American universities and specialized technology institutes to immediately audit their academic, financial and research connections to foreign entities that the government considers too risky or hostile to engage with.The initiation of these probes, revealed on Monday, marks DOD’s latest move in a yearslong effort to counter what it views as adversarial influences infiltrating U.S. academia. “To maintain eligibility for future federal research funding, the notified universities must complete a comprehensive audit of all identified foreign collaborations, assess the exposure of sensitive or export-controlled research, and implement strict mitigation plans, including the termination of problematic partnerships,” the Pentagon’s press release stated. “Institutions are required to report their findings and actions directly to the Department no later than August 31, 2026.” You can visit Brandi Vincent’s story on DefenseScoop to see the DOD’s full list of notified schools.

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