Denice Ross, a public-interest technology expert, has been appointed as the next chief data scientist of the United States. She joined the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy in November.

The federal chief data scientist has a broad mandate, which includes developing a strategy for maximizing the social return on government data, collaborating with agencies to create best practices for data management, and recruiting and retaining the brightest minds in data science for public service.

Ross formerly worked as a senior fellow with the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), and before that she was a fellow at the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation. Ross formerly served as a senior advisor at the Office of Management and Budget and as a Presidential Fellow at the charity New America, as well as in government as a senior adviser at the Office of Management and Budget and as a Presidential Innovation Fellow.