Obama to appoint a CTO, cabinet-level position?

Today, writing from Barcelona I’m filled with joy, inspiration and pride for my home country. I feel compelled to post not just about my excitement for president-elect Obama, but what his presidency and his understanding of technology will mean for our country, and indeed the world.

Tonight, we elected a visionary, transformational new president. Through a near-perfectly executed, grass-roots and high-values campaign, Obama sparked a political revolution that inspired young Americans to get involved in a deeply heartfelt movement for change. What made that near-perfect execution possible was leveraging communication technology and social media to build, and communicate with, an insanely broad base of supporters. In his victory speech tonight, he called on us all to become involved in our government in a manner that reminded me of Kennedy’s “Ask what you can do for your country” edict. Obama will broaden the movement he began in his campaign by providing new ways for us all to participate in a transformational new democracy.

In recent interviews, Obama shared his excitement for expanding the technology innovations his campaign built to involve citizens in his presidential campaign. I’m still astounded at how he broke campaign donation records in tiny $5-$20 increments donated by a broad base of supporters. Obama plans to expand and innovate on that technology during his Presidency– possibly realizing a true idealized version of democracy– enabled through technology. I imagine local ‘meetups’ and volunteer groups, expanded Peace Corps task forces sent overseas to aid in crises, volunteer mentor groups and tutors to help children in disadvantaged areas (see groups like 826 Valencia to see how possible this can be). I envision initiatives set out by President Obama to solve our problems like climate change and energy by working with companies like Google to get our best minds to work on solving problems with our minds, and not our brawn (think of expanding forums like the TED conferences).

Indeed, Obama has pledged to create a new Chief Technology Officer cabinet-level post in his administration. And I do not believe I’m being overly optimistic in believing that with new technology, smart communication and human organization systems, plus an inspired group of participants, yes we can absolutely affect real change and meaningful progress.

Last night I attended an election-night party here in Barcelona filled with excited American expats, local Catalonian politicians, and Obama supporters from all over the world. We partied, we talked excitedly about the results and what a President Obama might mean for our world.

This morning, I’m filled with a sense of pride for my small involvement in Obama’s campaign, and for the first time, inspiration to become actively involved in our democracy. Our new President’s understanding of technology and innovation as the #1 component of increasing the standard of living for all people gives me an overhwelming sense of hope that an Obama administration can affect real, meaningful and progressive change.