Google and the White House just sidled a step closer together: Google executive Megan Smith will be the United States' next chief technology officer, the White House said Thursday.
Smith joined Google in 2003 and is vice president of the search company's Google[x] "moonshot" programs. Before that, she was vice president of business development and has also been a highly visible cheerleader of diversity initiatives in the workplace.
Alongside Smith as deputy chief technology officer will be Alex Macgillivray, another Silicon Valley heavyweight and former Googler. Macgillivray worked at Google as an attorney wrangling the complicated Google Books effort before coming to Twitter to help develop its public policy and free-speech bent.
The U.S. chief technology officer's duties have not had time to be clearly defined -- the role was created on Obama's first day in office, and outgoing CTO Todd Park spent much of his time working on the Healthcare.gov initiative. But as Google continues to grow its involvement in government affairs and lobbying, it can't hurt to have friendly ears in Washington.
The White House statement suggests Smith will be given a long leash -- she "will guide the Administration’s information-technology policy and initiatives." Macgillivray will "focus on a portfolio of key priority areas for the Administration, including Internet policy, intellectual property policy, and the intersection of big data, technology, and privacy."
Google's leadership wished Smith well in her new position.
"Megan has inspired so many people through her commitment to inclusion and innovation," said co-founder Sergey Brin. "We’ll miss her at Google [x] and are excited to see what the future holds for her in Washington."
Smith is married to technology journalist and Re/code executive editor Kara Swisher, though a recent magazine profile of Swisher said the two had separated after 15 years of marriage.
