Svetlanacnc at 09:55, 26 March 2026

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{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gopal Khanna
| image = Gopal-khanna.png
| imagesize = 250px
| alt = Gopal Khanna
| caption = Gopal Khanna
| order =
| office = 5th Director of The [[Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality]]
| president = [[Donald Trump]]
| term_start = May 9, 2017
| term_end = January 11, 2021
| predecessor = Dr. Andrew Bindman
| successor = Dr. Robert Otto Valdez
| office1 = 1st Chief Information Officer for the State of Minnesota
| term_start1 = 15 August 2005
| term_end1 = 15 December 2010
| president1 =
| governor1 = Tim Pawlenty
| succeeding1 = 
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 = Carolyn Parnell
| order2 = 
| office2 = 
| term_start2 = 
| term_end2 = 
| office3 = CFO and CIO for the [[United States Peace Corps]]
| term_start3 = June 28, 2002
| term_end3 = May 8, 2005
| birth_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| birthname = Gopal Khanna
| birth_place = Bikaner, India
| nationality = American
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| residence = [[Edina, Minnesota]]
| spouse = Anjali Khanna
| children = Rohini Khanna<br/>Rohun Khanna
| alma_mater = [[St. Francis' College]], [[Lucknow]], India (HS) <br/>[[Christ Church College, Kanpur|Christ Church College]], [[Kanpur]], India (BA)
[[University of Maine]], USA (MBA)
| occupation =
| profession =
| cabinet =
| committees =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Gopal Khanna''' was the 5th director of the [[Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality]] from May 9, 2017, to January 11, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ahrq.gov/cpi/centers/od/khanna-bio.html|title=Gopal Khanna {{!}} Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality|website=www.ahrq.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-01-16}}</ref> Previously, he was appointed as [[Minnesota]]'s first [[Chief information officer|Chief Information Officer]] (CIO) by Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] on August 15, 2005, and reappointed on January 2, 2007. Before his departure, Khanna served as the Lead Co-chair of the 19 members Minnesota Commission on Service Innovation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lcc.leg.mn/inactive/csi/CSI%20Report%2012-3-10.pdf|title=The Commission on Service Innovation: Strategic Plan & Report to the Legislature|date=September 15, 2010}}</ref> Khanna served as a member of the Health Information Technology Policy & Standards Committees' Enrollment Workgroup, chaired by [[Barack Obama|President Obama]]'s Chief Technology Officer at The [[White House]], which was tasked to develop a set of standards to facilitate enrollment in federal and state health and human services programs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Enrollment Workgroup|url=http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&mode=2&objID=2004&PageID=18539 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110091316/http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&mode=2&objID=2004&PageID=18539 |archive-date=January 10, 2011 }}</ref>

Before assuming his position in the Governor's Cabinet, Khanna served in the administration of President [[George W. Bush]] from June 2002 to August 2005, where he held several senior policy positions including [[Chief information officer|CIO]] and [[Chief financial officer|CFO]] of the [[Peace Corps]]<ref name="PeaceCorps">{{cite news|title=Khanna {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source title|Appon|ited}} CIO of the Peace Corps |url=http://www.aiausa.org/press/20020629.html |date=June 29, 2002 |access-date=2011-03-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719063946/http://www.aiausa.org/press/20020629.html |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }}</ref> and CFO of the EOP/Office of Administration.<ref name="CFO">{{cite news|title=Indian-American appointed CFO of White House |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-05-06/us/27834388_1_indian-american-gopal-khanna-christ-college|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405211737/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-05-06/us/27834388_1_indian-american-gopal-khanna-christ-college|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 5, 2012|date=May 6, 2005|work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2011-03-21}}</ref>

==Industry Leadership==
As the President of the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO), Khanna was an advocate for enhanced cyber security,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascio.org/advocacy/cybersecurity/KhannaOpenLetterMedia2009.pdf |title=Khanna's open letter to media on Cyber Security |date=September 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726102145/http://www.nascio.org/advocacy/cybersecurity/KhannaOpenLetterMedia2009.pdf |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> and green IT initiatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascio.org/committees/green/ciosSpeakOut.cfm?vid=khanna|title=Greening as Part of Overall IT Strategy|access-date=2011-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726102155/http://www.nascio.org/committees/green/ciosSpeakOut.cfm?vid=khanna|archive-date=2011-07-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Minnesota State CIO==
Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] appointed Gopal Khana as the first Chief Information Officer for the State of Minnesota in August 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/02aziz.htm|title=Gopal Khanna appointed Minnesota CIO}}</ref> In this role, Khanna developed technology to streamline government and enhance collaboration with businesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/bright_side_of_government/archive/2010/09/27/in-historic-first-state-of-minnesota-moves-to-microsoft-cloud.aspx |title=In historic first, State of Minnesota moves to Microsoft Cloud |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930204029/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/bright_side_of_government/archive/2010/09/27/in-historic-first-state-of-minnesota-moves-to-microsoft-cloud.aspx |archive-date=2010-09-30 }}</ref>
The move to an outsourced solution shortly before leaving office was questioned by [[InformationWeek|Informationweek]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2010/10/state_cios_head.html|title=State CIOs Head for the Exits|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Shortly after his appointment, Khanna was interviewed by ''Twin Cities Business Magazine'' and cited many problems he believed were faced by Minnesota's IT [[infrastructure]], including "an aging state government workforce and younger tech-savvy who want faster services." To combat these problems, Khanna instituted the following:

* The Minnesota Information and Telecommunications Technology Systems and Services Master Plan in 2007 which acted as a comprehensive plan for all of Minnesota's information resources; the three pillars of which were consolidating and improving systems, improving efficiency and functionality of common activities, and increasing the security underlying the state's electronic capabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mn.gov/oet/images/State_IT_Master_Plan_2007.pdf |title=State of Minnesota Information and Telecommunications Technology Systems and Services Master Plan 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719030702/http://mn.gov/oet/images/State_IT_Master_Plan_2007.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-19 }}</ref>
* The IT Funding Strategies for 21st Century report (2008) which sought "''to inform policy makers of the need to create IT funding strategies that are needed urgently to facilitate and manage''" Minnesota's information priorities. It also advocated for "''flexible and creative approaches to funding business and technological change''" in order to "''supplement traditional funding methods''".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/OET/IT_funding_Strategies_for_the_21st_Century_building_a_comprehensiv_022908080406_IT%20Funding%20Strategies%201-31-08.pdf |title=IT Funding Strategies for the 21st Century: Building a comprehensive array of investment tools |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719055919/http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/OET/IT_funding_Strategies_for_the_21st_Century_building_a_comprehensiv_022908080406_IT%20Funding%20Strategies%201-31-08.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-19 }}</ref>
* The Enterprise Security Strategic Plan (2009) outlined methods to control and protect Minnesota's information assets, and a five-year vision with 19 strategic objectives that were grouped into three categories: Improved situational awareness; proactive risk management; and robust crisis and security incident management.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mn.gov/oet/images/Enterprise_Security_Strategic_Plan.pdf|title=Enterprise Security Strategic Plan – 2009}}</ref>
* The Minnesota iGov report (2009) updated implementation and best practices outlined to meet the goals outlined in the Master Plan while taking into account the state's fiscal challenges. It had 3 main tenets: citizens have expectations of data and services that are secure, accessible in real time, and locally available; information is one of the state's most important assets; the act of consolidating IT systems is an opportunity to improve fundamental business operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mn.gov/oet/images/Minnesota_iGov_Report.pdf |title=Minnesota iGov: A report by the State CIO Gopal Khanna |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719030750/http://mn.gov/oet/images/Minnesota_iGov_Report.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-19 }}</ref>
* In September 2010, in an effort to deliver technology services as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, the State of Minnesota's Office of Enterprise Technology signed a groundbreaking enterprise-wide cloud-computing service agreement with Microsoft - being one of the first states to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/bright_side_of_government/archive/2010/09/27/in-historic-first-state-of-minnesota-moves-to-microsoft-cloud.aspx#fbid=J8Z2rXq-d7G |title=In Historic First, State of Minnesota Moves to Microsoft Cloud |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930204029/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/bright_side_of_government/archive/2010/09/27/in-historic-first-state-of-minnesota-moves-to-microsoft-cloud.aspx |archive-date=2010-09-30 }}</ref>
* Collaboration initiatives, like those outlined in StateTech Magazine in their Dec 09/Jan 10 issue, worked to "''conquer storage woes with storage area networks rollouts, state of the art emergency operations centers, and arraignments conducted via video conferencing''" and partner with neighbor states to reduce costs while tackling tough hurdles.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.statetechmag.com/issues/december-2009-january-2010/banding-together.html|title=Banding Together: Government IT leaders bust through jurisdictional boundaries to share services and drive cost efficiencies}}</ref>

The Department of Revenue did not renew its contract for services from the Office of Enterprise Technology. Quality issues were acknowledged during a State House Legislative hearing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/minutes1.asp?comm=87018&id=108|title=State of Minnesota Government House Finance Committee Meeting|date=February 2, 2011}}</ref>
In September 2008 Khanna was elected by other state CIOs to be the President of the National Association of State CIOs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascio.org/newsroom/pressRelease.cfm?id=12 |title=Khanna Elected NASCIO President, Association Officers Also Named |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726102122/http://www.nascio.org/newsroom/pressRelease.cfm?id=12 |archive-date=2011-07-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/education/NASCIO-Elects-Minnesota-CIO-Gopal-Khanna.html|title=NASCIO Elects Minnesota CIO Gopal Khanna as New President|date=December 28, 2008}}</ref>

==U.S. Peace Corps==
Khanna served as Senior Foreign Service (SFS) level policy advisor to the Director of the Peace Corps on agency planning, congressional appropriations, budget strategizing, and directed all information technology. As CIO, provided leadership and oversight for the agency's worldwide IT operations and modernization of systems in support of agency's mission. As CFO, led the implementation of a new, integrated, highly complex financial management system, with ORACLE at the backend, for the agency's domestic offices and overseas operations in 72 countries, thereby providing a scalable platform to support the organization's growth in the 21st century and fulfilling congressionally mandated financial reporting requirements, including submission to the United States Congress on November 15, 2004, the first set of audited financial statements in agency's 43-year history. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20100527135143/http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/policies/annrept2004.pdf] The Peace Corps Performance and Accountability Report)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-05-27|title=Way back|url=http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/policies/annrept2004.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527135143/http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/policies/annrept2004.pdf|archive-date=2010-05-27}}</ref>

==Private Sector Career==
===International Technology Consultants, Inc.===
From 1996 to 2002, Khanna was president and CEO of International Technology Consultants, Inc., a Minneapolis-based IT and Management Consulting firm providing services to Fortune 1000 companies.

===American Hardware Insurance Group===
From 1990 to 1996, he was with the American Hardware Insurance Group, a [[Minneapolis]]-based property and casualty insurance group, where he held several positions including vice president of operations, vice president of systems, and vice president of information technology and administration.

===National Council on Compensation Insurance===
From 1981 to 1990, he was with the National Council on Compensation Insurance in [[Boca Raton]], [[Florida]], where he held several positions including director of operations and director of strategic planning. Prior to that, Khanna lived in [[New York City]] where he held positions in [[marketing]], [[sales management]], [[merchandising]], and corporate training and development with the MONY Financial Services Group.<ref name="How I Got Here: Gopal Khanna">{{cite web|url=https://www.itworld.com/career/71873/gopal-khanna-cio-state-minnesota?source=itw_rss|title=How I Got Here: Gopal Khanna|date=July 20, 2009}}</ref>

==Civic and community engagement==
Khanna served former Minnesota Governor [[Arne Carlson]] from 1993 to 1994 as his appointee to the [http://www.maefboard.com/ Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation].

In 2007, Khanna travelled with Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] as a member of a Minnesota Trade Delegation to [[India]] and visited sites in [[Delhi]], [[Bangalore]], and [[Mumbai]] opening trade opportunities between Minnesota and India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/10/24/indianotes3/|title=Pawlenty impresses Indian business leaders|date=24 October 2007 }}</ref><ref name="How I Got Here: Gopal Khanna" />

==Early years and Education==
A citizen of the [[United States|United States of America]], Gopal Khanna was born and raised in India. He hails from a family whose patriarch Rai Saheb Ganesh Prashad settled in [[Kanpur, India]] after his retirement from service in the [[Indian Railways]] during the [[British Raj]]. Gopal Khanna received his early education in a boarding school at [[St. Francis' College]] in [[Lucknow]], India. Khanna was a member of school [[cricket]], [[field hockey]], [[Association football|soccer]], and debating teams. Gopal Khanna earned his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree with concentration in [[Economics]], [[Mathematics]], and [[Political science|Political Science]] from [[Christ Church College, Kanpur|Christ Church College]], [[Kanpur]], India. He then pursued his higher education at the Graduate School of Business at the [[University of Maine]] where he earned his [[MBA]].<ref name="How I Got Here: Gopal Khanna"/>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khanna, Gopal}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American politicians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Chief information officers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Asian conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:American people of Punjabi descent]]

Gopal Khanna - Revision history

Svetlanacnc at 09:55, 26 March 2026