Ryan Riedel, who was appointed as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Department of Energy (DOE) just a month ago, has resigned from his role. Dawn Zimmer, who previously held the position of principal deputy CIO, will take over as the acting CIO, according to reports from Nextgov and FCW.
Riedel’s tenure as CIO began in early February, where he was responsible for overseeing a large workforce of 15,000 individuals working on the agency’s technology policies and cybersecurity efforts. His responsibilities also included managing national laboratories, power marketing administrations, and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Before his brief time at the DOE, Riedel worked in cybersecurity at SpaceX, where he served as the lead network security engineer from 2022. He also gained experience in U.S. Army Cyber Command as a network manager between 2019 and 2020, and in various IT roles at Corpus Christi Army Depot and the U.S. Navy.
While Riedel’s departure has left many wondering about the reasons behind his decision, he has not yet provided any explanation for stepping down.
Dawn Zimmer’s Extensive Career
Dawn Zimmer, with 25 years of experience in the IT industry, will now serve as the acting CIO. Prior to joining the DOE in November 2024 as the principal deputy CIO, Zimmer worked as the executive director of IT experience and engagement at Virginia Tech. She has also held roles at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Justice.
Zimmer is no stranger to leadership positions in government and technology, having a strong background in IT service delivery, strategic planning, and business partnerships. She previously served as acting CIO following Ann Durkin’s resignation, which highlights her proven ability to step into critical roles during transitions.
The Department of Energy is yet to clarify why Riedel resigned, leaving many questions unanswered as Zimmer now takes charge.
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