WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday named Washington tech chief Vivek Kundra to be the chief information officer at the White House.

As the first federal CIO, Kundra will direct policy and strategic planning of federal information technology investments as well as provide oversight of federal technology spending, the White House said in a new release.

Until the presidential appointment, Kundra was chief technology officer for the district of Columbia, responsible for technology operations and strategy for 86 agencies.

The White House position will work to ensure agency systems communicate with each other while making certain security and privacy is maintained, the White House said. The CIO also will work closely with the chief technology officer to advance the Obama's technology agenda.

"Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position," Obama said when introducing him. "As chief information officer, he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open and efficient way possible."

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