This article presents an interview by Gary E. Miller, executive director emeritus of Penn State World Campus, the online distance education campus of The Pennsylvania State University, with Karen Cator, director of the Office of Educational Technology in the United States Department of Education. She brings to the position a mix of corporate and public sector experience. Prior to joining the department, Cator directed Apple, Inc.'s leadership and advocacy efforts in education. In this role, she focused on the intersection of education policy and research; emerging technologies; and the practical realities faced by teachers, students, and administrators. In this interview, Director Cator discusses the role of distance education in the national educational strategy.