Guinn appoints technology director

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000 | 10:54 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Terry Savage, who recently supervised a $2 million upgrade of the state's computer system to avoid a potential crisis, today was named director of the state Department of Information Technology.

Savage, appointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn, succeeds Marlene Lockard, who resigned the $94,000-a-year job.

Savage has been deputy director of technical operations in the department.

"Terry's technical expertise, experience and familiarity with the department make him a perfect choice to lead the department," Guinn said. "The agency is facing some daunting challenges at this time, and I'm confident Terry will be an effective leader."

Savage has been acting director since the resignation of Lockard.

In that capacity, Savage told a legislative committee on technology last month that the state's computer systems were near "meltdown." The two major state computers were near capacity and programmers had to wait 15 to 20 minutes before they were able to make entries.

Guinn declared an emergency and authorized the use of $2 million in savings to expand the systems.

Savage has been deputy director since January. He was responsible for software development, project planning and management and database development. Before joining the state, he was employed as a senior software integration project manager for a software development company in Menlo Park, Calif.

He graduated cum laude and earned a bachelor's degree from UCLA. He has a degree in biochemistry studies from California Institute of Technology.