Google Veep favourite to become next US chief technology officer

Google VP Megan Smith could be about to join the Obama administration as the US chief technology officer.

Smith has been at Google for over 10 years and is currently the VP of special projects facility Google X. She is the favourite to replace outgoing Todd Park, sources have told Bloomberg.

Having joined Google in 2003, Smith helped to boost Google Earth and Google Maps by leading acquisitions of Keyhole and Where2Tech.

The Google VP's CV lists a variety of roles and accomplishments from working at Apple Japan in Tokyo, to designing an award-winning bike lock and being involved in a space station construction research project.

If appointed, Smith will become the third US CTO. The main responsibilities include helping to create jobs and reducing the cost of health care. The CTO is also tasked with boosting broadband access across America and protecting the country from cyber attacks.

Todd Park was in the role for two years and will now move back to California where he will take up a role as technology advisor.

He was instrumental in helping to fix the Healthcare.org portal after it was outsourced to contractors and suffered with severe technological problems at launch.

"I thank Todd for his service as my chief technology officer, and look forward to his continuing to help us deploy the best people and ideas from the tech community in service of the American people," President Obama said in a statement.

Both Google and the White House have so far declined to comment on plans for a successor.