While there’s usually a technology component in the job description of this new breed of CIO, it’s by no means a given. Often unfettered by the typical duties assigned to a chief information officer, which focus on keeping IT systems functioning to serve business needs, chief innovation officers are charged with implementing fresh ideas that have the potential to transform government.
Some innovation officers find their duties merged with traditional CIO responsibilities, as is the case in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City. Others, like those in Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn., have titles that reveal a link to their jurisdiction’s economic development endeavors.
While the idea may have its skeptics, Montgomery County, Md., Councilmember Roger Berliner told Government Technology in late 2012 that creating a chief innovation officer position is one way to change the culture of government. “People have said to me you can’t shift the culture with a new department, but I don’t know how else to do it. Change is a hard thing. Maybe a beacon of innovation can begin to change things.”
Click on the links in the map above to see the various forms innovation takes in different state and local governments (data repeated below).
| Adams County, Colo. Nick Kittle, Performance, Innovation and Sustainability Manager Appointed: January 2014 GovTech Coverage: A Holistic Model for Performance Measurement in Colorado Springs |
| Austin, Texas Kerry O'Connor, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: December 2013 |
| Boston Nigel Jacob and Chris Osgood, Co-chairs for the Office of New Urban Mechanics Appointed: January 2010 GovTech Coverage: Will the Chief Innovation Officer Transform Government?; Boston Tech Innovator to Join Living Cities |
| Carlsbad, CA David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: November 2018 GovTech Coverage: Carlsbad's First Innovation Officer Has Plans that Could Stretch Beyond One City |
| Chicago Brenna Berman, Commissioner of the Department of Innovation and Technology Appointed: June/July 2013 GovTech Coverage: Chicago Announces New CIO; Big Data Could Bring Government Big Benefits; 3 Reasons Chicago's Analytics Could be Coming to Your City |
| Colorado Mark Sirangelo, Chief Innovation Officer and Chairman of the Colorado Innovation Network Appointed: August 2013 GovTech Coverage: Colorado's Second Chief Innvation Officer |
| Davis, Calif. Rob White, Chief Innovation Officer for the City Manager's Office Appointed: March 2013 GovTech Coverage: Davis, Calif., Forms Public-Private Partnership to Hire Chief Innovation Officer; 6 Emerging Technologies and What They Mean to CIOs |
| Ferndale, Calif. Joseph Gacioch, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: Feb/March 2013 |
| Kansas City, Mo. Ashley Hand, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: January 2013 GovTech Coverage: Kansas City, Mo., Hires City's First Chief Innovation Officer |
| Los Angeles Peter Marx, Chief Innovation Technology Officer Appointed: February 2014 GovTech Coverage: Peter Marx Appointed Los Angeles' Chief Innovation Technology Officer |
| Louisville, Ky. Ted Smith, Chief of Economic Growth and Innovation Appointed: January 2012 GovTech Coverage: 2012 Year in Review: Chief Innovation Officers; Ted Smith -- 2013 GT Top 25 Winner; Big Data Takes on Chronic Disease; Does 3-D Printing Change Everything? |
| Maryland Michael Powell, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: August 2012 GovTech Coverage: CIO Michael Powell Discusses Maryland's Push for Big Data |
| Massachusetts Tony Parham, Government Innovation Officer for the Commonwealth Appointed: August 2012 GovTech Coverage:Will the Chief Innovation Officer Transform Government? |
| Montgomery County, Md. Dan Hoffman, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: October 2012 GovTech Coverage: Will the Chief Innovation Officer Transform Government? |
| Nashville, Tenn. Kristine LaLonde and Yiaway Yeh, Co-Chief Innovation Officers for the Office of Innovation Appointed: April 2013 |
| New York City Rahul Merchant, Chief Information and Innovation Officer Appointed: April 2012 GovTech Coverage: NYC Names Rahul N. Merchant to CIO and Innovation Role |
| Pittsburgh, Penn. Debra Lam, Chief Innovation and Performance Officer Appointed: January 2014 GovTech Coverage: Pittsburgh Uses Holistic Approach to City Services, Sustainability; Thinking Big on Sustainability; Pittsburgh's Debra Lam on Bringing Her International Work Home |
| Philadelphia Adel Ebeid, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: August 2011 GovTech Coverage: Adel Ebeid -- 2014 GT Top 25 Winner; 2012 Year in Review: Chief Innovation Officers; Microsoft and Philadelphia Pair Up through CityNext Program; Philly Teaches Officials with New Innovation Academy |
| Redlands, Calif. Danielle Garcia, Chief Innovation Officer |
| Riverside, California Lea Deesing, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: March 2013 GovTech Coverage: Riverside, Calif., Hires New Chief Innovation Officer; CIOs Share Their Secrets for Success |
| San Francisco (City and County) Jay Nath, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: January 2012 GovTech coverage: U.S. Mayors Form Technology and Innovation Task Force; 2012 Year in Review: Chief Innovation Officers |
| San Leandro, Calif. Deborah Acosta, Chief Innovation Officer Appointed: January 2013 |
Research by Maggie Cabrey
