Speakers

Ron Thompson is the Associate Chief Information Officer for (ACIO) for Transformation and Data and NASA's Chief Data Officer (CDO). Mr. Thompson has more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors where he was responsible for the data design, innovation, engineering, operational management, and governance of complex IT solutions. Ron’s hands-on experience in organizational design and transformation bring new perspectives to partnerships and creative problem solving.

Prior to joining NASA, Thompson served as Director of the Information Technology Division and Chief Information Officer of US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, charged with protecting agency data and providing IT services. He was responsible for innovative solutions and designs while maintaining systems for data capture, analysis, and dissemination.

As the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Information and Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from 2016-2017, Ron improved the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations and assisted administrations across the department.

Before serving at the VA, Thompson was the Executive Director for Engineering, Design and Operations in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Chief Information Officer. In this role, he transformed the IT service management model which increased service levels, ensured reliance and agility, and lowered overall costs. Ron also led the implementation of IT governance and innovation across the Domain Governance Office, focusing on improved business outcomes from the agency’s IT investments.

From 2009 to 2011, Ron held the position of Director of Program Management and Finance for the Internal Revenue Service where he managed finance, employee and labor relations, and talent management. His federal service also includes Chief Enterprise Architect and Program Manager for the Data Access and Dissemination System Office within the US Census Bureau and Director of Web Application Infrastructure with the Department of Treasury.

In the private sector, Thompson held Senior Account Manager and Consulting Manager positions with Hewlett Packard and Compaq Computer, leading software development, system design, and program execution.

Thompson is a fellow in the American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC). He has an Executive Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management, both from the University of Maryland. Ron resides in Maryland with his wife and two sons, and is active in the Boy Scouts of America as Scoutmaster.

Taka Ariga is GAO’s first Chief Data Scientist and Director of the Innovation Lab. As an integral part of the Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team, he will help GAO develop and implement advanced analytical capabilities for its auditing practices. Prior to joining GAO, he held executive positions at Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with audit, compliance, legal, and regulated entities.

Taka earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He is natively fluent in both Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. In his spare time, Taka is a serious amateur classical chamber musician (performing on cello throughout the Washington DC region), as well as a competitive tennis player.

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Tyler Kleykamp is a Fellow at Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation and Director of the State Chief Data Officers Network. Tyler was the State of Connecticut’s first Chief Data Officer (CDO) and one of the first state Chief Data Officers in the nation. A geographer by training, most of Tyler’s career has been in Connecticut state government including positions with the Department of Public Health, Office of Policy and Management, and the Governor’s Office.

In his role as CDO Tyler led Connecticut’s efforts to use data to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of state programs, policies, and services. He oversaw data analytics and transparency master planning, leveraging open source tools and technology to create cost effective and scalable solutions to solve some of Connecticut’s most intractable data challenges.

In 2016, Tyler was the recipient of the U.S. Open Data Institutes’ “Open Data Pioneer” award and was named a “Data and IT Innovator” by Route Fifty. In 2019, Tyler was named one of Government Technology’s “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers.”

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Eric Sweden possesses 40 years of experience in senior technical and management positions within IT, business, and public & occupational health with substantial experience in business architecture, information architecture, business process enhancement, and strategy development. He has held a variety of technical and managerial roles in chemical manufacturing and telecommunications corporations and has been serving the state government CIO community since 2003. 

Eric is an experienced presenter and author of a long list of guidance documents related to industry and state government IT management including enterprise architecture, enterprise IT governance, records management, digital preservation, information sharing, organizational transformation, business intelligence and analytics, cloud computing, cyber disruption response planning, government transparency, blockchain and multisourcing.

Eric holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota; and a Masters of Science from the School of Public Health, University of Michigan. In 2016 Eric completed the PTI / Rutgers University Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO™) Program with Honors.

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Camille Tuutti is the former executive editor of Nextgov. She previously served as editorial director at FedScoop, and prior to that, was a staff writer and "People" section editor at Federal Computer Week. Before that, Camille worked as a news editor and reporter, covering government contracting and IT. In her spare time, Camille serves as vice president of communications for Young AFCEA Bethesda. Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Camille has lived in London and New York before touching down in Washington, D.C. She currently lives in NE D.C.