The State of the Federal CDO Community: A Conversation with Kirsten Dalboe

Federal Chief Data Officers are coming into their own. What was once an additional hat many CDOs wore is now evolving into a distinct and primary role in federal agencies. Kirsten Dalboe, Chief Data Officer at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Chair of the Chief Data Officers Council, shares insights into the health and future of the federal CDO community. Kirsten discusses the results of a recent CDO Council survey, which highlights how the role is maturing, with over half of small agency CDOs reporting that their role has existed for less than five years. She explains how the survey is helping the CDO Council better understand and address the challenges CDOs face, including upskilling needs, resource gaps, and the growing importance of cross-agency collaboration.

The conversation also touches on how CDOs are expanding into new areas like AI, privacy management, and geospatial data, reflecting the increasing influence of data strategies on overall agency objectives. Kirsten notes that the CDO role is gaining more authority in some agencies as leaders realize its critical role in mission delivery. She also highlights the council’s ongoing efforts to professionalize the CDO function and strengthen data culture across government.

You can find a link to the CDO Council survey on today’s show page at FedGovToday.com. Don’t forget to check out the new TV show Speed to Mission, presented by AWS Marketplace, to learn how agencies are accelerating AI adoption through smarter procurement. Speed to Mission is available now on-demand at FedGovToday.com and the Fed Gov Today YouTube channel.

The next Fed Gov Today podcast is coming next Wednesday. You can listen to every Fed Gov Today podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.