James Seligman

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of James "Jim" Seligman on September 6, 2024. Jim passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. Jim was born in Astoria Queens, New York on October 7th, 1951. Jim earned his B.S. in Earth Sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and his M.S. in Environmental Science. Jim had a passion for both international and domestic travel, often traveling with his wife Debbie and their family. Together, Jim and Debbie found joy in cooking and gardening. In his leisure time, Jim enjoyed playing pool and golf, and bowling. A devoted sports fan, he enjoyed watching the Braves, Falcons, and college football.

Before his retirement in 2017 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Jim was the longest-serving Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the federal government and a distinguished member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) for nearly two decades. Over his remarkable 40-year federal career, Jim became a cornerstone of CDC.

Jim's executive leadership was instrumental in managing extensive information technology (IT) operations across CDC. At the peak of his tenure, Jim oversaw nearly 500 government staff and 1,000 contractors and managed more than $500 million in IT resources. His dedication to public health and adept handling of complex IT budgets and emerging technologies significantly advanced CDC's programs, enhancing the quality of life for countless Americans.

Known for his ability to "roll with the IT punches," Jim's extraordinary contributions earned him numerous accolades. These include the President's SES Distinguished Award (twice), the Meritorious Rank Award, the President's Quality Award for Competitive Sourcing, and the President's Medal for Y2K excellence. Additionally, Jim received the FCW President's Award and the Federal 100 Award, reflecting his profound impact on the federal IT community.

Throughout his career, Jim served multiple times as CDC's acting Chief Operating Officer and was actively involved in numerous federal boards, committees, and councils. His contributions significantly shaped CDC's operations and strategic direction, leaving a lasting impact on the agency and the broader federal landscape. Our sincere sympathies go out to Jim's family, friends, and colleagues as we mourn his loss. His contributions and impact will be cherished and remembered for many years ahead.

During his acceptance speech for the Federal 100 President's Award in 2013, Jim humorously noted that he had no intention of slowing down despite his impressive 15-year tenure as CIO. "People come up and tell me, 'I thought you retired,'" he joked. "But I haven't taken the hint." His legacy of operational excellence and service will be cherished by all who had the privilege of working with him.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Debbie; their sons, Chris and Michael (Georgina); and beloved granddaughter, Lily. He also leaves his sisters, Jeanne Frink and Susan (Sue) Cipolla (Vincent); nephews, Matthew and David; and sister-in-law, Janet Gulla. He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Joan Seligman.

A memorial service will be held at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, located at 1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur, GA 30033, on Saturday, September 28th, 2024, at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the CDC Foundation (https://give.cdcfoundation.org/Seligman), Oak Grove United Methodist Church Operating Fund (https://ogumc.org/donate) or the Parkinson's Foundation (https://parkinson.org).