Cita M. Furlani

Director, National Coordination Office (NCO)

Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program

(October 2000 – November 2002)

Cita M. Furlani served as Director of the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). ITL is one of six research Laboratories within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). At the time ITL had an annual budget of $120 million, 367 employees, and about 160 guest researchers from industry, universities, and foreign laboratories. As Director of ITL Ms. Furlani oversaw a research program designed to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by developing and disseminating standards, measurements, and testing for interoperability, security, usability, and reliability of information systems, including cybersecurity standards and guidelines for Federal agencies and U.S. industry, supporting these and measurement science at NIST through fundamental and applied research in computer science, mathematics, and statistics.

Ms. Furlani has also served as the Acting Director of the NIST Advanced Technology Program and as Chief Information Officer for NIST. She served as director of the National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development from 2000- 2002. Ms. Furlani succeeded Kay Howell and became the 5th Director of the NITRD Program. Ms. Furlani earned a B.A. in Physics and Mathematics from Texas Christian University and an M.S. in Computer and Electronic Engineering from George Mason University.