For immediate release:
Contact: Nathan Miller
nathan.miller1@maryland.gov
443-346-3972
Crownsville, MD: The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is pleased to announce
Natalie Evans Harris as the new
State Chief Data Officer (CDO), effective May 15, 2024. Harris brings over 20 years of experience leading data initiatives and organizations; she is a trusted leader with experience designing, developing, and delivering solutions that have advanced responsible data usage across the public sector. As the State CDO, Harris will lead the creation and implementation of a strategic data architecture and oversee data services for Maryland’s Executive Branch agencies.
“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 Governors Moore’s administration.
Harris is joining DoIT after serving as the Founding Executive Director (ED) at the Black Wealth Data Center, where she led data and product teams to create and implement a comprehensive data platform that helps the public and policymakers better understand and address racial wealth disparities in America. Additionally, Harris is reinforced by a variety of technical and leadership experiences, including times when she served as:
- A senior policy advisor to President Barack Obama’s and President Joe Biden’s administrations, where she provided guidance and technical expertise.
- A key member of the Secretary of Commerce’s direct policy and planning staff, where she was actively engaged in the development of broad policy objectives.
- The Executive Vice President of External Engagement at the Data Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve government and society by using data to inform public policymaking decisions.
"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to harness the power of data to innovate, streamline, and increase efficiencies across Maryland's government," says Harris. "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."
In addition, DoIT is excited to welcome another seasoned expert to the senior leadership team;
Jason Silva will serve as DoIT’s new
Deputy Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Platform Services effective May 15, 2024.
“I am extremely excited to join DoIT's talented team and support its ongoing efforts to provide state agencies with the IT resources they need to serve the people of Maryland,” says Silva.
Jason Silva is a seasoned IT Executive with over 25 years of experience in the industry. He has held C-level positions with multiple IT organizations, specializing in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) spaces. As DoIT’s Deputy CTO of Platform Services, Silva will use his cross-functional knowledge of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offerings and experience navigating complexities in the IT industry to improve DoIT’s platform services.
Most recently, Jason served as the Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Maryland Department of Transportation. In this role, he demonstrated his ability to lead and innovate in a wide array of IT areas, driving many of the enterprise platform modernization efforts across the department. His experience modernizing platform services will help support DoIT’s mission of providing vital technology solutions to the Executive Branch, State Agencies, and Coordinating Offices, enabling Marylanders to live and work more safely, efficiently, and productively.
“With Jason’s extensive experience in State and private sectors, DoIT will launch a Platform Services group, developing and defining the State’s enterprise platform strategy for supporting cyber-managed services, collaboration tools, identity and access management, payments, and more across the agencies we serve,” Secretary Savage said.