MaSSSoftech

Virginia’s new computer chief is George F. Coulter, whose first task will be to repair the state’s strained relationship with Northrop Grumman.

Coulter, of Purcellville in Loudoun County, succeeds Lemuel C. “Lem” Stewart, who was fired by the oversight board of the state’s information technology agency because he wanted to withhold a $14 monthly payment to Northrop Grumman for poor service and incomplete billing.

Northrop Grumman has a 10-year, $2.3 billion contract to provide IT services to state agencies.

Coulter, with more than 30 years in information technology, was approved for chief information officer this afternoon on a 5-1 vote by the Information Technology Investment Board, which oversees the agency that Coulter will head—the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.

Coulter previously served as CIO of Arlington-based AES, an electric utility company. He has also worked for Cargill, a privately held grain giant.

The job he held before joining the state was chief information technology officer of Solera Holdings, which provides software for the automobile insurance industry.

Coulter graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles.

VITA turned to a personnel company, Korn/Ferry, to screen prospects for Virginia’s CIO. The firm recommended 15 candidates for the job, a pool from which three finalists were selected.