James L. Buchanan, Vice President Information Technology Services
James L. Buchanan retired in March 2011 from the Federal Government with 28 years of service. In his last government position, James provided the Network Security and Operations Division of the US Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce the technical leadership for the continuous and vigilant operation and maintenance of the network and security infrastructure systems. He developed the facility and procedures for an Enterprise Operations Center (EOC) that combines the functions of network and security operations centers, and closely integrates it with system and application management and administration. As a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security, he was the Director of Technology and Information for the Operations Directorate. He ensured that the directorate and the “Watch Floor” had the proper facilities, technological tools and systems to effectively communicate, collect, process, display, evaluate and disseminate information. James managed the development of the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) and the associated Common Operating Picture which together are the primary systems for the department to share information across a department of 200,000 and coordinate with all sectors of the Nation (Federal, State, Local and Private). The Homeland Security Information Network was credited by the state of Louisiana with saving over 10,000 lives during Hurricane Katrina when it was used by the state police to record 911 calls and convert street address to map coordinates.
Mr. Buchanan was detailed to the White House from the Department of Energy to support the Office of Homeland Security, "Buck," as he is known to friends and colleagues, was responsible for IT support at the Threat Monitoring Center, the Incident Support Group and the Coordination Center. He quickly established a management system that included system-level architecture and top-level classified and unclassified connectivity among the White House and major agencies. Within three months, he set up the support system needed for real-world activities. His service at the White House resulted in his receiving a 2003 “Federal 100 Award’. At the Department of Energy he spent eleven years providing strategic planning, budgeting and integration of the nuclear weapons R&D programs, and served as the Director of Information Technology for Defense Programs. He also developed and managed an intern program for recent engineering graduates that transitioned them into engineering manager positions in DOE. He became certified as a PMP, Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute (PMI) while at DOE.
As a 1973 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Mr. Buchanan served 5 years at sea on surface combatants in weapons, operations, and communications departments. He continued in the reserves serving at the Pentagon and CINCLANTFLT. He applied his naval experience as a contractor during the 1980’s in designing the command and control spaces (Bridge and CIC) for the Navy’s Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) Class Destroyers and developing the Combat System Modernization Program for the AEGIS cruisers and destroyers. The U.S. Navy continues to build the DDG 51 Class Destroyers, now over 60 ships, with his design only being changed with updated equipment.