Kay Howell

Director, National Coordination Office (NCO)

Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program

(December 1997 – September 2000)

Dr. John H. Gibbons, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, announced on November 14, 1997 his intention to appoint Ms. Kay Howell as Director of the National Coordination Office for Computing, Information, and Communications. Dr. Gibbons said, “As both a user and a manager of high performance computing resources, Kay Howell is exceptionally knowledgeable about our Federal interagency high performance computing and communications programs. She has established a superior reputation for dedicated leadership and skilled coordination in applying leading edge computer technology to serve our broader national interests.”

Prior to joining the NCO, Ms. Howell was the Director of the Department of Defense (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program under the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR& E) from 1996 – 1997. In that capacity, she managed a major DoD effort to modernize the advanced computing and communications capabilities of the Department’s R&D laboratories and test and evaluation centers. Other DoD positions held by Ms. Howell include the Director, Center for Computational Science and Computer Resources Architect at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC, where she worked from 1988 – 1995. From 1981 – 1987, Ms. Howell served as a member of the Systems and Engineering Directorate of the Naval Air Systems Command where she developed and maintained computer simulation models for conceptual aircraft design.

Ms. Howell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science and a Masters in Business Administration.