As someone who has been following cloud computing since the start, there have been a few key moments in the progression of cloud computing from a fringe term to main stream concept. Among these include August 2006 with the private beta launch of Amazon EC2, June 2008 with what is now described as the "Week of Cloud" in San Francisco which included the launch of CloudCamp as well as several key cloud conferences. I believe this week is one of those times with the U.S Government's formal and vocal adoption of cloud computing.

I'd like to recap a few of the important things have happened over the last week or so.

The U.S Federal Government has indicated they have hired Patrick Stingley as federal cloud CTO (Federal Cloud Czar).

The White House unveiled a Cross-Cutting Programs Document that outlines the administration's 2010 budget requests including pilot projects that identify common services and solutions and that focus on using cloud computing

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) revealed a draft of a formal government definition for cloud computing (including the definition of infrastructure as a service), as well as an upcoming NIST Special Publication on Cloud Computing and Security.

The GSA announced a cloud computing RFI which included provisions for cloud interoperability and portability.

As I've said previously, I believe this is a landmark moment for Cloud Computing and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Earlier this week David Mihalchick, manager of Google's federal business development team said in an informationweek interview, that the "White House's budget addendum could be a watershed event for the federal cloud computing market".

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what happens next. I'll keep you posted.

• Could Cloud Computing Cost More?
• SYS-CON to Debut "Cloud Computing Journal" This Week at 1st International Cloud Computing Conference & Expo
• rPath to Advise Practical Cloud Adoption at SYS-CON's Cloud Computing Conference & Expo