Indian American to lead US terror information sharing agency

Washington, May 28:

The White House has named Indian-American Kshemendra Paul as the new Programme Manager of the Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE), an agency that facilitates the sharing of terrorism-related information within various US government wings.

Paul, whose parents migrated from Punjab in 1950s, will replace Thomas McNamara, who retired from the position in July 2009. Paul moves to the new position after spending the last three years as the chief architect of the Office of Management and Budget.

The agency that Paul would head has assumed a major role as the Obama administration is focused on organising and streamlining the huge terrorism related data available with various agencies and departments of the US government.

"He brings a wealth of experience in developing and implementing government wide information technology systems, standards and architectures," an official said.

"Further, he has been intimately involved in the ongoing activities of the PM-ISE for some time through his close work with the president's national security staff. Finally, he has an extensive relationships and track record working with state and local stakeholders on information sharing standards and architecture."

As the PM-ISE, Paul will work in the Office of the Director for National Intelligence, and will be the co-chairman of interagency meetings with the National Security staff, to better align and integrate the office of the PM-ISE with the White House.

Paul will be responsible for developing standards, policies and processes to improve how the federal government shares terrorist information with state and local law enforcement agencies.

"The efforts of the PM-ISE will be refocused on the information technology vision identified in the Intelligence Reform Act ," the official says.

"Top priorities include not only short-term solutions, such as interoperability of multiple government networks, but also working with the intelligence community, law enforcement and homeland security communities to develop a long-term strategic vision."

Paul also has for the past two years led the Standards and Architecture Interagency Policy subcommittee, under the White House's Information Sharing and Access Interagency Policy Committee (ISA-IPC).

The ISA-IPC is responsible for improving information sharing to enhance the national security of the country.

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