During his weekly Saturday morning radio and Internet address to the American people, U.S. President Obama formally named the country's first chief technology officer in an effort to advance the role of technology in government.

The current Technology Secretary of Virginia state, Aneesh Chopra, was assigned to the job and will now become the first CTO of the United States. “Aneesh will promote technological innovation to help achieve our most urgent priorities — from creating jobs and reducing health care costs to keeping our nation secure,” Obama said in his Saturday radio address. More specifically, Chopra will be an assistant to the President and his formal title will be associate director for technology under the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy office.

“Aneesh’s experience as Virginia’s secretary of technology and that state’s CTO has provided highly relevant preparation for this new role, and I am confident he will be a major asset to the Administration,” said Mitch Kapor, the Lotus Development Corp. founder who said he got to know Chopra during the campaign.

More here.