Google exec reported for top government tech post

A top Google executive is reportedly in the running for the next U.S. chief technology officer.

Bloomberg reported on Thursday that Megan Smith, vice president of the Google X research lab, is a top choice to replace Todd Park as the top federal aide on technology issues.

{mosads}If chosen, Smith would be the third chief technology officer for the country, whose job it is to make sure the federal government is using technology well.

Smith has been working at Google since 2003. In addition to her post with Google X, she has also overseen a slew of important acquisitions for the company, including the firm behind the Google Earth satellite imaging service.

Park’s departure from the post was formally announced this week. After replacing Aneesh Chopra in 2012, he helped turn around HealthCare.gov, following its disastrous rollout late last year and worked to start a fellowship program that partners people from the government and private sector.

After stepping down, Park will remain with the administration in a new role from Silicon Valley, where he will help recruit ambitious rising coders and developers to send back to Washington and further improve the administration’s use of technology and the Internet.