Nevada's first chief data officer is taking a collaborative approach to leveraging data to improve the state's outcomes.
For veteran state executive Jason Benshoof, a priority in his new role will be developing policies and frameworks that govern how the state's data is collected, stored and shared across departments.
“We want to ensure that the state's data is managed in a way that respects privacy and security, while making it available for all efforts that benefit Nevadans,” he said.
In February, Nevada CIO Timothy Galluzi said: government technology He considers data to be the nation's “greatest asset.”
Beyond data governance, Benshoof will be responsible for advancing the use of data in policy decision-making to help state leaders make data-informed decisions.
He said this will be a collaboration with data analysts, data scientists and other stakeholders to help shape informed policy on everything from public health to economic development. During his term, Benshoof said he intends to work with stakeholders across state government and in the region to promote more effective solutions.
“I want to emphasize the importance of collaboration, because to ensure that our data efforts align with the needs and priorities of the communities we serve, , because it requires a collaborative approach,” he said.
He said some state agencies may already have their own data officers, but Benshoof is the first-ever state CDO. His first day as state CDO was Feb. 12, OCIO officials said in an email. Prior to his appointment, Benshoof served as OCIO's Chief IT Manager for Client Services since 2021, but his work in Nevada dates back to 2009. This includes a variety of experience in a variety of sectors, from tourism to healthcare to various levels of government. , including states and tribes.
Although he has only been in his new role for six weeks, Benschouf said he is already seeing opportunities to leverage data in areas ranging from the economy to education to public safety and more.
The CDO said that his previous experience, particularly in the field of health and human services, had influenced his view of government work. He explained that health and human services case management systems are often data-rich environments that require frequent reporting for operational and compliance purposes. In these roles, he recognized that data is a valuable tool in helping government agencies access funding opportunities and has tremendous value in decision-making.
Benshoof said part of his work as CDO includes exploring new technologies that could help the state better manage and utilize data. This could include efforts to deploy AI tools to improve service delivery or use predictive analytics to predict trends.
“I think there is a lot of agreement that the use of data will play an important role in shaping the future of our state,” Benshoof said.