18F promotes internally for new leadership roles

The 18F digital services team kicked off the week with some fresh leadership news — Cyd Harrell announced she will now fill the newly created position of chief of staff, while Rebecca Piazza has been promoted to the agency’s new deputy executive director.

Harrell has been a part of 18F strategy team at the General Services Administration since May 2016. She previously worked as a product director and UX evangelist at Code For America.

The chief of staff role is new for 18F, envisioned as an advisory and strategic support function to the group’s executive director.

Piazza, meanwhile, joined 18F as a product manager in April 2015, working her way up to her most recent role as director of product. Hillary Hartley served as the organization’s last deputy director before leaving the federal government this past April.

Both will assist 18F’s executive director, a role that has been filled by Dave Zvenyach in an acting capacity since co-founder Aaron Snow stepped down in October 2016.

The moves come amid a high-level reorganization within the GSA that will undoubtedly affect 18F. The Technology Transformation Service, which houses 18F, was recently restructured as a subordinate office within the Federal Acquisition Service. At the same time, GSA also changed the FAS commissioner to a politically appointed position, since filled by Alan Thomas.

Some lawmakers are concerned that could make GSA’s acquisition and technology services political operations.