Don UPSON

Biography

Don Upson is among the most recognized names in American government management, especially as management and service delivery are improved through technology applications. Currently, he works as Managing Partner of Upson Technology Group, a leading business services firm specializing in bringing innovative technologies to public sector markets. He is the founder of the government tech sector's most exclusive annual policy summit - CES Government -, which is partnered with the world's most prestigious technology trade show: CES. He is founder and Co-Chair of the Government Business Executive Forum (GBEF), a non-profit corporation of top business leaders whose primary business focus is government technology. The GBEF constitutes the board of CES Government. Mr. Upson's government service includes appointment as the first Secretary of Technology of any jurisdiction (Virginia), a position emulated by many states and foreign governments. In this position, he led a landmark business and government commission that developed the first comprehensive Internet governance, which was enacted in Virginia and served as a model for US Federal, other states and foreign governments. He is the former Republican staff director of the US House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where he led numerous investigations and provided senior leadership on major legislation affecting technology management in American government: Paperwork Reduction Act, Chief Financial Officers Act, Inspectors General Act, others. Mr. Upson's private sector career most recently includes Chief Operating Officer of UNICOM Global, where he ran the UNICOM Government division - a $350m VAR and reseller of technology products and services to US Federal, state and local governments. He previously had worked as Senior VP of a major systems integrator, Planning Research Corporation (now Northrop Grumman IT). Among his recognitions, Mr. Upson is a six-time winner of the prestigious Fed 100, honoring the 100 most influential technology leaders in the US Federal sector. He serves on the Executive Committee of the USO Metro and sits on several advisory and corporate boards - private and public sectors. He holds a BS in Economics and International Relations from California State University Chico and completed graduate work at George Washington University. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Marymount University for his work as Secretary of Technology.

Areas of Expertise