Donald Bauer

Donald Bauer is the Chief Technology Officer for Global Talent Management at the U.S. Department of State. A former Navy Chief and Surface Warfare Officer, Don is a Computer Scientist with over 25 years of experience in government software development, including work on NASA’s space shuttle and satellite automation programs.

In 1999, he co-founded QuickHire, the first commercial online job system for the Federal Government, later acquired by Monster.com. He transitioned to federal service in 2006 with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, leading HR case management and hiring efforts. At DHS HQ in 2010, he served as Enterprise Technical Operations Director, overseeing Information Assurance, 508 compliance, and IT Acquisition Review.

After a stint in the private sector, Don joined the Department of State in 2016, advancing to CTO in 2020. He manages a team of 330 professionals, maintaining two ERP platforms and 70 applications for the State Department’s 78,000 employees. Don is leading a multi-year modernization effort focused on usability, cloud transition, and cyber hygiene. In 2024, he received the Meritorious Presidential Rank award for his modernization efforts.

Don resides in Manassas, VA, and enjoys cooking, camping, collecting wine, 3D printing, and spending time with his grandson.