New VA OIG CIO Aims for Mission-Centered Approach to Oversight

Lance Jenkinson took the helm as CIO at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General at a moment when oversight increasingly depends on data, automation and resilient digital systems.

A longtime government technologist, he brings experience leading enterprise IT and program management initiatives across the War Department. Jenkinson spoke with GovCIO Media & Research about how his background will shape VA OIG’s IT strategy and oversight.

Mission-Centered IT

The OIG is tasked with detecting and preventing fraud, waste and abuse while enhancing the effectiveness of VA programs. For Jenkinson, that mission starts with secure, reliable IT systems.

“The technology environment has to support this mission reliably, securely and efficiently,” Jenkinson said. He added that veterans and their families rely on the VA OIG to deliver timely reports and process large volumes of hotline submissions.

“Our ability to conduct important oversight and investigative work depends on resilient systems and a strong data environment,” he said.

Settling into his new role, Jenkinson will focus on how IT capabilities support operations to “sustain the independence, integrity and performance the VA OIG relies on.”

Scaling AI With Oversight

Jenkinson pointed to artificial intelligence as a key opportunity to improve efficiency across oversight functions.

“AI has real potential to improve efficiency and deepen analysis when it is used thoughtfully, and the federal government must model responsible, well-governed adoption of these tools,” he said.

The office is taking a structured and transparent approach to AI deployment. Jenkinson noted its AI Committee that is responsible for authorizing and monitoring all AI use within the office through an AI registry. The office also conducts audits and inspections of VA AI use across the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration to ensure compliance with federal requirements.

Experience Driving Execution

Jenkinson spent most of his federal career leading enterprise IT and large-scale programs at the War Department, including initiatives designed to operate with startup-like agility inside government.

Jenkinson also led teams at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and spent several years with large government contractors supporting the U.S. Census Bureau and the Defense Information Systems Agency. He also owned and operated his own small business.

“That mix of experience gives me a unique lens on how policy, procurement and operations come together and allows me to retain an entrepreneurial mindset while meeting federal standards,” he said.

This blend of perspectives informs his approach to how OIG prioritizes technology and executes its oversight mission. Jenkinson said his experience helps build “systems and processes that can withstand scrutiny and uphold the same standard that we expect from everyone else.”