New Report Defines Roles for State Chief Data Officers

A new report outlines three archetypes for state chief data officers, addressing a role now in nearly 40 states.

Georgetown University’s Beeck Center released guidance this month to help states better define the chief data officer (CDO) position, clarifying its structure, resourcing, and authority. This effort matters as states seek sustainable models for integrating data leadership into government.

The report identifies archetypes such as the lone builder, governance steward, and IT-aligned executor, highlighting how alignment with IT can enable scale but restrict broader influence. Indiana’s Management Performance Hub, codified in 2017, exemplifies growth with a staff increase from about 10 to nearly 40 employees by August 2024, backed by over $9 million in annual funding. Ohio’s Office of Data and Efficiency, created last year, separates CDO and CIO roles to enhance focus. Meanwhile, Work for America is offering a Talent Accelerator workshop from April to June to help cities reduce hiring times, which currently average around 130 days.

Applications for the Work for America program are due March 20, with selected cities notified by April 1.

New report aims to help states define the chief data officer role
By Kaitlyn Levinson, Route Fifty