The Chief Information Officer has responsibility for the policy direction, strategic planning, and overall coordination of information technology resources and services. Of particular concern for the CIO are policies, practices, infrastructures, information systems, and support services that provide the underpinning support for Cal State East Bay’s Framework for the Future. This includes the standards the university adopts, the initiatives it pursues, and the investments it makes in technology, networking, computing, integration of voice-data-video, and cyber infrastructure in support of the University’s mission.

 

John Charles is Cal State East Bay’s first CIO. However, he has held the senior IT administrator position at Cal State East Bay since August 1996 -- initially as Director of the Information & Computing Services department, then as the Associate Vice President for Information Technology, and now as the university’s Chief Information Officer.

 

As CIO, he designed the new Information Technology Services (ITS) division in consultation with the colleges, administrative units, the University-wide Information Technology (UIT) advisory committee, and the Academic Senate. This process included year-long pilot implementations for two colleges and one administrative division. ITS support and service delivery expectations are guided by Service Level Agreements with a “centrally-coordinated/locally-directed” tagline.

 

John is very active in advancing broadband network access for K-20 within the State of California, nationally, and internationally. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC), and as Treasurer for this research and education community-based non-profit corporation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Internet Educational Equal Access Foundation (IEEAF), and as Secretary for this international research and education community-based non-profit corporation.

 

John came to Cal State East Bay from Harvard University where he had served as Director of Systems Integration and IT Services Development. His career as a user, manager and student of information technology also includes nine years planning and implementing shared technology infrastructures for the Department of Defense, as well as three years of full-time teaching experience as a member of the engineering faculty at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point.

 

He received his B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics, in 1972, and his M.S. in Engineering Science, Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, in 1973 from the University of Florida.

 

External Activities

• CENIC - Board of Directors and Treasurer (Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California)
• IEEAF - Board of Directors and Secretary (Internet Educational Equal Access Foundation)
• ITAC - Member (CSU Information Technology Advisory Council)