INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LEADER AWARD
Adrian R. Gardner’s career includes more than 20 years of federal service enabling mission capability and readiness. Gardner was the recipient of 2005 Federal 100 award and was named to InformationWeek’s 2011 Government CIO 50 list.
Gardner currently serves as the Director of the IT and Communications Directorate and Chief Information Officer for the Goddard Space Flight Center. As part of this role, he manages IT as a strategic asset and all mission and satellite launch communications. Gardner also serves as the Chair of the federal sub-committee responsible for setting standards for sharing and reporting governmental data and was one of the key architects for the federal data.gov initiative.
He was previously CIO for the National Weather Service, Deputy Associate CIO, Department of Energy, and Deputy Associate CIO for Cyber Security, Department of Energy. Gardner is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Southern California where he holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He also holds an MSc degree in Environmental Studies from Hood College and is the recipient of an honorary doctorate degree, also from Hood College. Gardner holds a BSc in Biological Science and Ecology from the Tuskegee Institute. Gardner serves on the Board of the District of Columbia Urban League and is a volunteer and mentor to several academic and youth programs.
An Air Force veteran, Gardner was commissioned as a Launch Control Officer and served with distinction until he was honorably discharged. He received the Air Force Achievement Medal in 1987.
