WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama named Aneesh Chopra as the administration's new chief technology officer during his weekly address on Saturday.

Chopra is currently Virginia's fourth secretary of technology and co-chairs the Healthcare IT Council with Health Secretary Marilyn Tavenner. In 2007 he was recognized with the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society's Advocacy Award for his significant contribution in the healthcare information field.

The CTO, formally known as the associate director for Technology of Science and Technology Policy, is a position that was created by Obama.

Chopra will promote technological innovation to help the country meet its "most urgent priorities – from creating jobs and reducing healthcare costs to keeping our nation secure," said Obama.

In the coming weeks the president said he would be "announcing the elimination of dozens of government programs shown to be wasteful or ineffective."

"In this effort, there will be no sacred cows and no pet projects.  All across America, families are making hard choices, and it's time their government did the same," he said. "That is why I have assembled a team of management, technology and budget experts to guide us in this work – leaders who will help us revamp government operations from top to bottom and ensure that the federal government is truly working for the American people."

The president ended his address by saying the changes required will not be easy, but with new leadership he is "confident that we can break our bad habits, put an end to the mismanagement that has plagued our government, and start living within our means again. That is how we will get our deficits under control and move from recovery to prosperity. And that is how we will give the American people the kind of government they expect and deserve – one that is efficient, accountable and fully worthy of their trust."