MeriTalk’s Data Center Exchange (Washington, DC), a community of federal data center consolidation leaders, has recognized the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with its "Optimize Data Center Awards" for leadership in federal data center management.
MeriTalk is an online community and go-to resource for government IT that commands an audience of 85,000 government contacts. Focusing on government’s hot-button issues, MeriTalk hosts its Big Data Exchange, Data Center Exchange, Cyber Security Exchange, and Cloud Exchange platforms, dedicated to supporting public-private dialogue and collaboration.
Judged by Federal data center professionals, MeriTalk says its Optimize honors comprise the only goverment data center awards program that recognizes leadership and encourages cross-pollination of best practices.
"Federal data center management isn’t an easy task," says Steve O’Keeffe, founder, MeriTalk. "We need positive examples to light the way for real modernization and new efficiencies."
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This year's Optimize award winners by category include the following:
-- DCX Leader – Excellence in Data Center Consolidation Leadership
Colonel James C. Parks III, Chief of the Data Center Consolidation Initiative in the Department of the Army’s Chief Information Officer (CIO)/G-6 Office
-- DCX Innovators – Innovative Application of Technology to Support Data Center Consolidation
Network Enterprise Center of Fort Bragg
PD Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Enterprise Systems and Services (ALTESS), U.S. Army
-- DCX Economist – Data Center Consolidation Program with Maximum Savings for the Organization
U.S. Navy – Data Center Consolidation Program
-- DCX Powerhouse – Significant Power Savings within Data Center Consolidation
NOAA Environmental Security Computing Center (NESCC)
The Optimize Awards judges included:
-- Walt Bigelow, Chief, IT Systems Management Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
-- Steve Cooper, Former Chief Information Officer, Federal Aviation Administration
-- Jeanne Etzel, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Department of Homeland Security
-- Margie Graves, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Department of Homeland Security
-- Anil Karmel, Deputy Chief Technology Officer, National Nuclear Security Administration
-- Ben Rhodeside, Office of Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-Va.)
-- Karen Petraska, Service Executive for Data Centers, Office of the Chief Information Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
"We’re excited to work with such a distinguished panel of federal experts to judge these important awards and honored to recognize these leaders," concludes MeriTalk's O’Keeffe. "The Optimize awards recognize positive Federal leadership and inspire the Federal data center community to move forward.” Details on the award-winning programs and individuals are available at www.meritalk.com/dcx-brainstorm-spring2013-awards. To join the Data Center Exchange community, visit www.meritalk.com/dcx.
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