Jim Gfrerer
The Honorable James Gfrerer was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate as the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer beginning in January 2019. In this role, he was the senior technology executive for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), leading enterprise technology strategy, cybersecurity, and digital transformation for the largest Federal civilian agency, with over 425,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $300 billion.
Mr. Gfrerer led a 16,000-person federal IT and contractor workforce and oversaw more than $7 billion in annual technology investments supporting services for approximately 18 million Veterans and their families. He led enterprise technology strategy and execution enabling major national initiatives, including the VA MISSION Act, the Forever GI Bill, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, and the VA Caregivers Program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the rapid enterprise transition to remote operations while accelerating infrastructure modernization and deployment of secure end-user technologies on a national scale, principally for the largest integrated healthcare with over 1200 sites, and with 56 Regional Benefits offices, and over 140 National Cemeteries.
Following his government service, Mr. Gfrerer founded Fidelis Technology LLC, where he provides strategic advisory services to commercial entities operating in the Public Sector, with a focus on technology, cybersecurity, and growth strategies. He also serves on multiple advisory boards supporting innovation, enterprise technology, and Federal market engagement.
Prior to his Senate-confirmed role, Gfrerer served as an Executive Director at Ernst & Young (EY) within the firm’s cybersecurity practice. He advised Fortune 100 clients on information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity across the aerospace and defense, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors.
A decorated Marine Corps infantry officer with more than 28 years of active-duty service, Mr. Gfrerer retired at the rank of Colonel. His career included infantry command and senior staff assignments, as well as over several years of forward-deployments both at sea and ashore, with combat service in Kuwait and Iraq. He was the founding Commander of the Marine Corps Information Operations Command (MCIOC), where he established enduring service-level capabilities in information operations, including cyber operations, psychological operations, military deception, and influence activities. During his tenure, his teams supported multiple Marine Expeditionary Force deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom supporting RC-Southwest in Afghanistan.
Mr. Gfrerer’s final assignment was as the Senior Marine Corps representative to the U.S. Department of State, where he was Director of Operations for a counterterrorism bureau and Senior Military Advisor to the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. In these roles, he specialized in political-military affairs and interagency cyber strategy.
He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He also holds a Master of Science with distinction in National Resource Strategy, with a concentration in Information Technology, from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (now the Eisenhower School), and a Chief Information Officer Certificate (Honor Graduate) from the Information Resources Management College.
His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and multiple campaign and service awards.