In June 2020, Tennessee hired a Chief Data Officer (CDO) within the Office of Strategic Technology Solutions (STS) as part of the Department of Finance and Administration. The CDO has developed a data management and open data strategy and a statewide framework for data governance. The CDO has developed a future state architecture for the data platform to modernize the way data is shared and accessed internally across agencies and externally. Tennessee is actively recruiting to fill the position as it has been vacated. The role will partner closely with the Office of Evidence and Impact (OEI) to effectively manage and oversee the data of Tennessee. In addition, this role will define data strategy practices, lead the creation (and assure the ongoing relevance) of the State’s data strategy in collaboration with the Office of Evidence and Impact and other executives as well as foster the creation of a data-driven culture, related competencies, and data literacy across the enterprise.

The Office of Strategic Technology Solutions (STS) and the Office of Evidence and Impact (OEI) partner to implement and oversee Tennessee’s efforts to utilize enterprise-wide data analytics, including the new Tennessee Data Analytics for Transparency and Accountability (TN DATA) platform. Educating state agencies about cataloging data is a key component to this initiative. The OEI Director chairs the state’s Enterprise Data Analytics Leadership Committee, composed of commissioners and information officers representing multiple agencies, which steers the vision and project prioritization for the TN DATA effort. TN DATA is partially funded through American Rescue Plan (ARP), and partially through recurring state dollars (49.5.e).