Christie empowers chief technology officer for New Jersey

After creating a new cabinet position of chief technology officer,  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has tapped David Weinstein, a former civilian employee with the United States Cyber Command, to oversee expansion of the state’s technology infrastructure and enhance cybersecurity.

“This fiscal year, we will invest an additional $10 million in hardening our systems against the most sophisticated of cyberattacks — including performing comprehensive audits of our infrastructure and assessing the network for any potential compromises that have already occurred,” Christie said Monday.

Christie said he knows it’s vital to safeguard the state’s information technology systems to protect individual privacy because he has been the victim of identity theft.

“After it happens to you, it is an everyday occurrence that creates risk to you and your family, both personal and financial. and creates enormous inconvenience, which would be the nicest way of putting it,” he said.

Weinstein said he will work to mitigate the risks that advanced technology can pose to the state. At the same time, he said he will take aggressive steps to capitalize on the opportunities it presents to government departments and agencies.

“I share the governor’s vision that innovation is not outside of the reach of government and that we can and should embrace technological change at a pace commensurate with the private sector,” he said.