Jennifer Wendel Named Permanent CIO of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has officially named Jennifer Wendel as its permanent Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective November 18, 2024. Wendel has been serving as Acting CIO since December 2023, following Karl Mathias’s departure to NASA. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in her nearly three-decade-long federal career.

Leadership and Oversight of HHS IT Systems

As CIO, Wendel oversees HHS’s extensive IT systems and security operations, supporting a workforce of over 83,000 employees. She heads the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), managing IT policies, high-priority projects, and strategic investments. Wendel also leads the department’s $9.5 billion IT portfolio, which underpins HHS’s mission to enhance the health and well-being of Americans.

A Career of Federal Excellence

Before her current role, Wendel served as Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) at HHS from January 2023 to December 2023. She brings a wealth of federal IT leadership experience, having previously served as Acting DCIO for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from March 2020. At the FBI, she advised on technology advancements, IT governance, cybersecurity, and risk management frameworks.

Wendel’s FBI tenure also included roles such as Section Chief of Enterprise IT Management and Chief of the Executive Staff Unit within the Criminal Investigative Division (CID). In these positions, she spearheaded initiatives to align IT and data resources with agency missions and supported executive leadership in strategic decision-making.

From Biologist to Technology Leader

Wendel began her federal career in 1996 as a biologist with the FBI, managing forensic DNA cases and testifying as an expert in court. She later became Chief of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Unit, overseeing the development and operation of the CODIS software and the National DNA Index System (NDIS), which serve federal, state, and local crime laboratories across the United States.

Looking Ahead

Wendel’s extensive experience in IT leadership, policy development, and strategic alignment positions her to drive HHS’s technology strategy forward. Her leadership will play a pivotal role in ensuring that HHS continues to meet its mission of improving the health and well-being of Americans through innovative and secure IT solutions.

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