James (Jim) Steven serves as the Acting Associate Chief Information Officer for Data Center Operations and Director of the National Information Technology Center (NITC). Mr. Steven oversees the management of the USDA’s enterprise data centers located at Kansas City, MO, St. Louis, MO, Beltsville, MD and Salt Lake City, UT. 

 He has been at NITC since 1996, serving in numerous roles including: Data Center Engineer; New Business Integration Manager; Account Management Branch Chief;  Business and Project Management Division Director; and Deputy Associate Chief Information Officer.

Mr. Steven began his federal service in 1980 as an active duty member of the US Navy where he served as a Nuclear Engineer on Fast Attack Submarines. In 1994 Jim began his civil service career with the National Weather Service where he served as the Central Region Mechanical Systems Engineer.

Mr. Steven’s educational background includes undergraduate studies in Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering; Graduate studies in Leadership and Management; and completion of the USDA Grad School Executive Potential Program and Federal Executive Institute courses.