Janice Degarmo, acting chief data officer at the State Department, told Federal News Network in an interview published Tuesday about the newly established Center for Analytics and how it helps the department address foreign policy issues through data analytics.
Degarmo discussed the use of various data sources to help the center understand and predict the evolving world dynamics and CFA's collaboration with offices to develop data forward strategies to address issues concerning 5G technology, China or Iran, among others.
When asked about the selection of datasets, she said the center works with policy experts, the intelligence community and other agencies to bring in the most defensible data. “Data integrity is at the heart of what the Center for Analytics, it’s one of our values. And so we were always very mindful on purposeful to make sure that we’re bringing in the right data to solve the problems,” Degarmo added.
Degarmo noted that leveraging the power of data as a strategic asset is one of the goals of a chief data officer and that requires collaboration. She also cited how the center looks at issues surrounding the COVID-19 virus.
