Open Source For America Announces New Leadership

Deb Bryant and Kane McLean take on role of co-chairs

Washington, D.C (PRWEB) April 09, 2013

Open Source for America (OSFA), an organization promoting the use of open source technologies in the U.S. federal government, today announced the election of Deb Bryant and Kane McLean as co-chairs of the organization.

Bryant created the public sector program at Oregon State University’s Open Source Lab (OSUOSL) and founded and produced the annual Government Open Source Conference (GOSCON) from 2005-2011. She serves on numerous boards and councils with public trust agendas and an emphasis on open source as enabling technology.

McLean is part of the Strategy & Communications Group at BRTRC and currently works supporting the Department of Defense. He also serves on the Steering Committee of Mil-OSS, a defense-oriented public sector open source community.

McLean and Bryant issued a joint statement regarding their new roles: “We strongly believe that governments at all levels can benefit from adoption of open source in terms of the actual technology as well as the model for collaboration between various stakeholders. Open Source for America is a great platform for that message, and we are thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead that effort.”

The new co-chairs replace Gunnar Hellekson of Red Hat and John Scott of Radiant Blue. “Deb and Kane have been long-time members of our Steering Committee and have already shown tremendous dedication to Open Source for America in various leadership roles,” said Hellekson. “We couldn’t ask for two better leaders for the organization.” Scott agreed, “They apply the best principles of open source, like transparency, collaboration, and meritocracy, to everything they do. OSFA is fortunate to have them at the helm.” Hellekson and Scott will remain on the Steering Committee of the organization.

About Open Source for America
Open Source for America (OSFA) is an organization of technology industry leaders, non-government associations and academic and research institutions dedicated to advocating the use of open source software in the U.S. federal government. Participation in Open Source for America is open to any individual or entity signing the campaign's mission pledge at: http://www.opensourceforamerica.org.