Erin Cavanaugh is the Chief of Staff for the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Director of the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) Program at the Department of Commerce (DOC). She provides strategic and operational leadership and support to enable DOC missions and customers. She ensures the CIO’s operations and daily activities run smoothly. Erin is a member of the OCIO Leadership Team, which is responsible for addressing strategic, tactical and operational concerns for oversight of Department IT activities, programs, projects and initiatives.

As the Department’s FITARA Program Director, Ms. Cavanaugh leads the implementation of FITARA across the Department’s 12 bureaus and facilitates increased collaboration across the major elements of IT, Acquisition, Budget and Workforce Management.

She has managed a diverse team to ensure governance and oversight of Enterprise Architecture, Capital Planning, Policy Management, Records Management, and E-Gov initiatives. Ms. Cavanaugh has vast experience in customer service and IT operations as the IT Service Desk Contracting Representative managing the contract, customers and responsibilities of a fully functional service desk for the Office of the Secretary and several staff offices and bureaus in the Department. She regularly interacts with senior executives including the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Commerce, as well as the Department Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel.

Ms. Cavanaugh holds an MBA from the University of Maryland’s University College and a Bachelor’s Degree from West Virginia University (Let’s Go Mountaineers!). She is a certified ITIL expert. She is a recipient of the Secretary of Commerce’s Silver Medal award and two OCIO Bronze Medals during her time here at Commerce.