The role of data gatekeeper, chief data officer (CDO), has been gaining steam in the public sector over the last few years. Handfuls of states, cities and counties are bringing on their own chiefs to help agencies position themselves to utilize data in service of their constituents.
When Government Technology, Techwire's sister publication, first began reporting on the role a few years ago, many who held the title were the first to occupy the post in their jurisdiction. But for many pioneering government organizations, the chief data officer position has matured over time, bringing change and new faces into the CDO office.
San Jose recently announced plans to hire the city's first chief data officer, seeking to strengthen their open-data efforts and build partnerships with Silicon Valley companies.
In California, the CDOs have become key players in large cities and counties. Here are a handful of them whom you should know about, along with links to part coverage.
Los Angeles County
Mark Greninger
June 2016
Bio: lacounty.gov
Fast fact: Before becoming CDO, Greninger was L.A. County’s geographic information officer for a decade.
Open data portal: data.lacounty.gov
GovTech coverage: The Job of Data: The Chiefs in Charge of Data in the C Suite
Riverside County
Tom Mullen
May 2015
Bio: LinkedIn
Fast fact: Mullen started working with the county in 1999 as the chief deputy treasurer tax collector.
Open data portal: data.countyofriverside.us
GovTech coverage: RFP Seeks Providers to Build 1 GB Broadband Network to Every Home, Business in Riverside County, Calif.
San Francisco
Joy Bonaguro
February 2014
Bio: LinkedIn
Fast fact: Bonaguro was one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers in 2016 as part of Team San Francisco.
Open data portal: data.sfgov.org
GovTech coverage: What’s New in Civic Tech: Bloomberg Cities Highlights 'Data-Driven Women to Watch'; San Francisco Announces Chief Data Officer Joy Bonaguro; San Francisco's Chief Data Geek Prepares to Roll Up Her Sleeves
San Diego
Maksim Pecherskiy
November 2014
Bio: sandiego.gov
Fast fact: Pecherskiy ran a one-man data shop until September 2015 when he hired his first employee.
Open data portal: data.sandiego.gov
GovTech coverage: Jam-Packed C-Suite: How Can 3-Letter Chiefs with Roles that Touch Tech Work Together?; San Diego Hires its First Chief Data Officer
San Jose
Erica Garaffo (Data Analytics Lead)
May 2015
Bio: LinkedIn
Fast fact: Before Garaffo’s analytic role, she was a performance auditor for the city of San Jose for three years.
Open data portal: data.sanjoseca.gov
GovTech coverage: First Steps for Cities in Harnessing the Value of Untapped Data
