John J. Garing

Chief Information Officer
Director for Strategic Planning and Information

John J. Garing is DISA’s Chief Information Officer and Director for Strategic Planning and Information. He is responsible for supporting the DISA Director in decision making, strategy development and communicating that strategy both internally and externally. Mr. Garing ensures that DISA’s program execution is aligned with Department of Defense (DOD) strategy in planning, engineering, acquiring, fielding and supporting global-net-centric solutions, operating the Global Information Grid, information assurance and management of DISA information technology resources. As a support service unit, SPI supports DISA missions with cost-effective information tools and capabilities, and provides leadership and support in a wide range of Agency and DOD information management initiatives.

Prior to assuming this position, he was the Director of the Computing Systems Directorate, and was responsible for information processing and information technology services provided by DISA's Defense Enterprise Computing Centers (DECC) and DECC detachments, which provide combat support processing for the Department of Defense in a global, interoperable, and assured environment. He also served as Chief, Combat Support, Deputy Director Operations, and was responsible for developing and managing the business aspects of the information processing and information technology services provided by the DECCs and DECC detachments. He was also responsible for electronic commerce operations and for the Joint Staff Support Center, and has introduced innovative business practices to segregate and improve cost management, invoicing, and customer relations, and established a business management center to develop new business and improve customer management.

He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree from Pacific Lutheran University. He is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Army’s Command and General Staff College.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1965, and his career encompassed tactical, base level, and strategic communications planning, operations, and maintenance. He commanded two communications squadrons, served for four years with the White House Communications Agency, served in the International Military Staff of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and served as both a division chief and director at Headquarters Air Force. Colonel Garing retired from the Air Force in 1989.

The following eight years, he spent in business supporting both government and commercial clients. He was responsible for programs providing systems integration, telecommunications, software development and re-engineering, network implementation, imaging, records management, and integrated logistics support. He progressed rapidly in executive and technical responsibility for multi-million dollar programs, and held the position of vice president for three different companies.
(Current as of January 2006)

To Jan 9, 2007 Monthly Luncheon Page