Tech experts exit White House

When President Barack Obama took office, he brought with him a pack of technology advocates with impressive résumés and ambitious visions. They wanted to improve the government through the use of Internet tools and iPhone apps and help shape communications policy to expand broadband. But the core group of techies that launched big initiatives has left the White House over the past six months, raising questions about what will become of the administration’s technology-focused goals.

The recent resignation of Vivek Kundra, the federal government’s first chief information officer, is the latest, highest-profile departure. Another division of the executive office -- the Office of Science and Technology Policy, led by Director John P. Holdren -- has also seen turnover this year. Andrew McLaughlin, who was deputy chief technology officer in charge of Internet policy, left in December. Beth Noveck, who was deputy chief technology officer for open government, returned to New York Law School in January and will consult with the U.K. government. Meanwhile, Jim Kohlenberger, OSTP chief of staff, returned to the Benton Foundation. In the past month or so, departures continued. Scott Deutchman, deputy for telecom policy, joined Neustar. And Phil Weiser, who also oversaw tech and telecom issues, returned to the University of Colorado Law School.