I lost a good friend yesterday. Tom Jarrett passed away on October 16, 2012 at the age of 61. Tom was an active member of NASCIO starting in 2001 when he was first appointed Secretary of Technology and CIO for the State of Delaware. He was past president of NASCIO (2005-06) and recipient of the prestigious 2006 Meritorious Service Award.
During his tenure, he served as chair of several committees and held the position of NASCIO Vice President and President. He spoke at many conferences, testified before Congress and trudged through countless number of meetings with me in DC. He was always willing to step up and volunteer for the association.
I worked closely with Tom for several years, yet I've had only a few hours to reflect on his legacy to our community. Tom was serious about his role, state CIOs and his work with NASCIO, but could also be irreverent and offbeat. He was always willing to poke the bear in the eye with a stick. Tom pushed for a stronger NASCIO voice, questioned standard practices, preached reform and always made fun of my ties. I learned the history of Harley-Davidson and Pumpkin Chunkin' from Tom.
Tom and his spirit will be missed by all who knew him.