The IT CTO Council Panel NASA IT Summit 2011

1. The IT CTO Council PanelNASA IT Summit 2011 Ray O’Brien CTO for IT & Innovation Manager NASA Ames Research Center

2. Focused Innovation • So many opportunities and a rapidly changing technology landscape – how does one choose? • At ARC, the formal innovation focus will leverage the Center’s IT strengths & specialized facilities for benefit of the Agency • Enhanced by beneficial public/private partnerships, many with presence in SV

3. Moving Innovation from Disruptive to Sustained Use/Operations Phase • Many great ideas die along the way • Could have a great innovation program but some percentage will need to move out of the “lab” • Many challenges – contractual, financial, political, policy, process integration • Sometimes timing is just off – but at least one definition of innovation says this is key, and a certain author states that if the timing is right, it’s too late

4. Repeatable Infusion  • Much more difficult than repeated innovation • Frequently will be an extended uphill trudge • So the innovation pursuit should be worth the trudge • An innovation framework and recognition of CTO’s role in innovation will help but might also need a playbook • Each “win” (innovation successfully infused on a large scale) will probably help rewrite the playbook

5. A Recognized Role for Innovation within NASA IT • For a variety of reasons, service providers/owners may not always be in best position to propose new approaches • New I3P Service Office Charters appear to be addressing this by allowing CTO community to influence direction • Every Center has strengths, assets, other resources that the CTO community needs to leverage to take advantage of this new role/opportunity