Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an Executive Order (EO) signed Sept. 28, 2024 Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga established the Office of Information Technology.

Under the Governor’s Office, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) is to be headed by a Chief Information Officer appointed by the Governor on the basis of education, experience and other qualifications in information technology and administration and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor.

The OIT shall coordinate a unified executive branch strategic information technology plan, identify best practices from executive branch agencies and other public and private sector entities, and develop and implement processes to replicate information technology best practices and standards throughout the executive branch.

The powers and duties assigned to the EO office are:

(1) Development of a comprehensive multiyear strategic plan for Information Technology for the Executive Branch, which addresses the acquisition, management, and use of TI and specific projects that implement the strategic plan;

(2) Review, coordinate, and approve any TI Consolidation Plans, IT procurement plans, IT contracts, and setting timeframes for TI infrastructure consolidation;

(3) Review of government construction projects to ensure coordination and compliance for information technology standards for the construction of new government facilities;

(5) Issuing policies, standards and guidelines governing information technology asset (hardware or software) procurement, development, and maintenance; and

(6) Identifying opportunities for cost savings based on standardization, cross-agency coordination or collaboration, use of shared or centralized services, and bulk purchase discounts; and

(7) Establishing and enforcing cybersecurity policies and procedures to safeguard government systems, data, and infrastructure. With the increasing threat of cyberattacks, ti is crucial for the government to have robust cybersecurity measures in place. The CIO will work closely with IT professionals to develop and implement policies that protect sensitive information and mitigate risks.

Executive Order 008 – 2024 takes effect immediately and replaces Executive Order 05-2021, which is repealed.