The Transportation Department joined a small but growing roster of federal departments to add a dedicated chief data officer to its executive ranks, with Dan Morgan starting officially on Monday as the department’s first-ever CDO, charged with overseeing the department’s data sharing efforts.
Morgan will report to the department’s CIO, Richard McKinney, and work to improve data quality, data sharing and new data product development, according to the department’s CDO job posting. The CDO position will have responsibility for the department’s data program and compliance.
Morgan specialized in open data initiatives prior to taking the CDO position, serving as associate director for PhaseOne Consulting Group, which supported the chief information officer at the Transportation Department. While at PhaseOne, Morgan worked with the Open Forum Foundation to author the book “The 20 Basics of Open Government.”
Morgan also worked in management consulting roles at SENSA Solutions, RGS Associates and Accenture, and worked in the Navy’s Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for Deputy CNO Communication Networks (OPNAV N6), according to his LinkedIn profile. .
Morgan officially announced his position on Twitter his first morning on the job:
Good morning, @USDOT! Excited to start my first day as your Chief Data Officer! — Daniel Morgan (@dsmorgan77) July 28, 2014
The DOT’s hire adds to a growing list of federal agencies which have hired chief data officers over the past two years. Earlier this month, the Commerce Department announced it would add the position and in 2013, the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Reserve Board hired CDOs.
Other states and the District of Columbia as well as a growing number of cities, including Philadelphia, have also either hired or announced plans to hire chief data officers as well.
Morgan and McKinney were unable to respond to FedScoop’s request for comments on the CDO’s on boarding.
