(US and Canada) Maryland’s Department of Information Technology has announced the appointment of Natalie Evans Harris as the state’s Chief Data Officer (CDO). Harris, a former senior policy adviser in the Barack Obama and Joe Biden administrations, brings extensive experience to her new role. She most recently served as the founding Executive Director at the Black Wealth Data Center, a Washington D.C. nonprofit focusing on cataloging wealth disparities.

As Maryland’s CDO, Harris is tasked with creating and implementing a strategic data architecture and overseeing data services within the government.

“Natalie is a proven leader who will advance the State’s data modernization efforts, from platform and governance strategies to preparing our data to realize the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning,” says Katie Savage, Cabinet Secretary of DoIT under Governor Moore’s administration.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the opportunity, Harris stated, “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to harness the power of data to innovate, streamline, and increase efficiencies across Maryland’s government. As a 20-year resident, I am eager to dive in and demonstrate the critical role of data in shaping our future and empowering individuals and organizations to make informed decisions in pursuit of data-driven excellence.”