Tops In Technology

ear Adm. Grace Hopper was known for saying it is easier to apologize than it is to get permission. The 43-year Navy veteran was a gutsy technology trailblazer, who was the Navy's oldest active duty officer before retiring in 1986. She died in 1992 at age 85. Known as "Amazing Grace," Hopper's mantra was innovation and bucking shortsighted strictures of government bureaucracy. She pushed the computer industry to adopt standards and a rigorous design discipline on everything from networking to software development.

A computer specialist for the Navy during World War II, Hopper coined the term "bug" when a moth got stuck in a circuit and caused a glitch in the world's first large-scale computer. She helped develop the COBOL programming language of the 1950s. At the Naval Data Automation Command in 11966, Hopper worked to standardize the Navy's information technology initiatives. She set her clock to run counterclockwise to remind subordinates, peers and bosses alike of the benefits of unconventional thinking.

This year, Government Executive's Government Technology Leadership Awards program has adopted Hopper's name to promote her legacy-generating ideas that change the way government conducts business. The 11 federal, state and local projects selected to receive the "Gracies" embody Hopper's spirit and foresight.

The winners were chosen in a new, three-part process. First, a team put together by Cheryl Ward, chief of staff at the Federal Technology Service, winnowed a record 263 nominees to 30 finalists. These projects were divided into one of six categories, which include leadership in cybersecurity and improving citizens' faith in government. Then, the 50 members of the new Academy of Government Technology Leadership voted online for the best projects. Finally, a panel of judges reviewed the academy's verdicts and made the final recommendations.

The Gracies will be awarded at a Dec. 4 ceremony in Washington sponsored by CDW Government Inc., Compaq Computer Corp., GovWorks, Information Builders Inc., Northrop Grumman Information Technology and PeopleSoft Inc.

The Winners

• VA Virtual Learning, Veterans Health Administration
• Transportation Knowledge Sharing, Federal Highway Administration
• Defense Department Common Access Card, Defense Department
• Security Configuration Guidance, National Security Agency
• TexasOnline, State of Texas
• Electronic Signature for Master Promissory Note, Education Department
• Readiness Management Application, Defense Logistics Agency
• eArmyU, Army
• NC@YourService, State of North Carolina
• E-Commerce Print-on-Demand, NOAA
• Firstgov, General Services Administration

Judges of this year's Government Technology Leadership Awards include John B. Arthur, U.S. Forest Service; Sandra Bates, Federal Technology Service; David Borland, Department of Defense; Linda Burek, Department of Justice; Daniel Chenok, Office of Management and Budget; Timothy B. Clark, Government Executive; Dennis Fischer, Visa U.S.A.; Dr. Elizabeth McDaniel, Information Resources Management College; Alan Paller, The CIO Institute; Gloria Parker, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Franklin S. Reeder, Reeder & Associates.