The Datum Awards in downtown D.C. recognized government data champions who are working on meaningful initiatives that unleash data for the public good. Specifically, the 2022 awards, sponsored by Workiva, recognized leaders under all three of the new positions established by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, political leaders, and other categories championed by the Data Coalition's activities.
Nominees are individuals who are champions for the use of data in evidence-based decision-making, transparency, and accountability. Each of the nominated champions support and demonstrate a commitment to enabling a more efficient and effective government, while using data to make the government more innovative for improving outcomes that improve the lives of the American people, strengthen the economy, or make the country a better place.
2022 Datum Award Recipients
Data Innovation Award
(Sponsored by DLT Solutions)
Mike Willis Associate Director, Office of Data Science and Innovation, Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Mike Willis is a longtime advocate for evidence-based decision-making, transparency, and accountability in the financial sector. As a leader in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, Mr. Willis is leading efforts to require machine-readable financial disclosures, and oversaw the addition of downloadable, freely available data sets about securities holdings of large institutional investors to the SEC’s website.
Political Leadership Award
(Sponsored by Workiva)
Senator Brian Schatz, U.S. Senate
With cybercrime continuing to harm vulnerable Americans, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz authored and ushered the Better Cybercrime Metrics Act of 2022 to passage. The bipartisan bill will give law enforcement a clearer picture of online crimes by improving data collection and requiring the FBI to integrate cybercrime incidents into its current reporting streams. Through Senator Schatz’s leadership, law enforcement and policymakers will have wider access to the data and tools they need to keep Americans safe.
Federal Chief Data Officer Award
(Sponsored by Deloitte)
Samuel "Chris" Haffer, Ph.D., Chief Data Officer, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Samuel C. “Chris” Haffer, Ph.D. became the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s first Chief Data Officer in 2017 and immediately set to work modernizing the agency’s data practices. Among the many projects Dr. Haffer has led in the past year, the EEOC has launched EEOC Explore, an accessible data query and mapping tool, run nationwide surveys of employers and workers during the pandemic, and created the District Demographic Dashboard to help identify and better serve vulnerable workers.
Federal Customer Experience Official Award
(Sponsored by Informatica)
Barbara Morton, Deputy Chief Veterans Experience Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Barbara Morton has overseen drastic changes in how U.S. our veterans are served in her time with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She has built durable customer experience (CX) capabilities and capacities through her work. Thanks to her exemplary achievements, she is now responsible for sharing best practices in CX across federal agencies. Mrs. Morton contributes to the Customer Experience Cookbook, which serves as a practitioner’s guide to building and sustaining customer experience capabilities in government.
Federal Chief Evaluation Officer Award
Matthew Soldner, Ph.D., Chief Evaluation Officer & Commissioner, National Center for Education Evaluation, U.S. Department of Education
As Chief Evaluation Officer of the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Matthew Soldner applies extensive knowledge of mixed methods research to education evaluation, conducting rigorous tests to help states and local governments improve student outcomes. Dr. Soldner and his team have contributed important research on data sharing and the impacts of federally funded learning programs, and supported the What Works Clearinghouse, a resource for educators, evaluators, and researchers everywhere.
Federal Statistical Official Award
Shelly Wilkie Martinez Senior Statistician, U.S. Office of Management and Budget & Former Executive Director, U.S. Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking
Before becoming Senior Statistician at the White House Office of Management and Budget, Shelly Wilkie Martinez served as Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking, supported the Federal Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building, and much more. With a deep knowledge of the federal data ecosystem, Mrs. Martinez has worked tirelessly in her role with OMB to fulfill the vision of the Evidence Commission and support compliance with the Evidence Act.
Award Criteria
Nominees are individuals who are champions for the use of data in evidence-based decision-making, transparency, and accountability. Ultimately, those awarded a Datum Award:
Made unique contributions to government data policy;
Have shown sustained interest in using data for the public good;
Proved to be a model, leader, or champion for the data community, and;
Displayed characteristics that reflect the mission and values of the Data Coalition Initiative
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you would like to learn more about sponsoring this event, please email partnership@datafoundation.org.
