NYS Forum

2004 Award for Excellence in Government Information Services Winner

The Forum recognizes individuals who unquestionably perform above the norm in service to New York State. In recent years public sector IT has become far more complex requiring integration across state-level agencies and with the local level. Moreover, government IT operations have become a likely target of external threats requiring a much higher degree of coordination and creative leadership. Achieving "excellence in government information services," as judged by one's peers, is no small accomplishment. Achieving the unexpected, setting higher standards and untiring commitment to addressing the state's needs are characteristics that recipients of this award have all demonstrated.

This year we are pleased to present this award to Will Pelgrin, Director of the NYS Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination. Accomplishing one's work on time, on budget, and in a high quality fashion is what we're all paid to do. However, when what you do here in New York is quickly recognized as having national value and you become a part of a national leadership team in your profession, you demonstrate the excellence The Forum strives to recognize. Will Pelgrin is not a witness to the evolving national strategies in the cyber security arena, he is central to them. As the Chair of the Multi-State Information Sharing Analysis Center Will has been in the national forefront of creating a focal point for gathering information on cyber threats to critical infrastructures and for sharing information on cyber incidents and threats. This national capacity has become a fundamental tool for providing timely warnings on cyber threats and attacks and has produced information and intelligence analyses to support federal, state and local first responders and law enforcement readiness and response efforts.

When the cyber security education mission required in New York became clear, it was Will's creative energy that elevated New York's webcast series from a state-based initiative to one supported by the US Department of Homeland Security and one about to offer the third in a series of educational webcasts to what will surely be a total of over 2500 national participants.

We are not only fortunate to have leadership of Will's caliber working on our side in New York, we are honored and pleased to present Will with The NYS Forum's Award for Excellence.

The Forum's Awards for Excellence recognize individuals who have exhibited extraordinary leadership and commitment to the work of benefit to New York state. Will Pelgrin has distinguished himself and New York by becoming a national leader in an area important to all of us.

This year, The Forum achieved extraordinary, very tangible outcomes and benefits for its membership in support of state priorities. Because so much of what The Forum achieved this year was directly due to the tireless work of its committees and their leadership, we felt it fitting to "look within" the organization for outstanding examples of excellence.

Debi Orton from the Governor's Office of Employee Relations and Mike Short, Department of Civil Service, are co-chairs of The Forum's IT Accessibility Committee. We recognize Debi and Mike for their leadership in working with OFT on the revised state accessibility policy and standard and, of great value to an IT audience well beyond the membership of The Forum, the creation of an educational curriculum and resources to aid those responsible for creating government websites to ensure conformance to the policy and standard.

First released as a CD, a copy of the latest version is in your packet, the dynamic nature of the curriculum resources has led to the creation of an online resource jointly sponsored by The NYS Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities and The Northeast ADA and IT Center at Cornell University. This resource has already been recognized for its value on a national scale as evidenced by a presentation Mike has been invited to do at a national conference in Kansas City on October 2nd.

Once again we're witnessing The Forum's work evolving to national relevance and I'm honored to present this important award to Debi and Mike for having provided The Forum with exemplary leadership and achievement.