Deborah Diaz

Deborah Diaz is the NASA Chief Technology Officer for IT (CTO-IT). Diaz is the senior level technology and innovation advisor providing visionary leadership to transform management of information technology capabilities and shared services to support and enable NASA’s mission. She leads the development and implementation of technology infusion pilots and provides expert guidance on new technology investments, applications, and innovative solutions such as 3D printing in space, API development and visual analytics. She created high profile open innovation venues such as International Space Apps Challenge, Women in Data, and led the Open Government and Data Strategy Initiatives. Diaz previously served many years as NASA’s Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) where she was responsible for revitalizing the planning, development and operations of the $4.3 billion IT infrastructure consolidation program. As an experienced information technology executive, she is recognized as a top agent of change who has provided innovative, business solutions and developed strong partnerships between industry and government. Prior to NASA, as the Department of Homeland Security Chief Information Officer for Science and Technology, she developed and implemented $1 billion of complex, ground-breaking scientific programs and IT infrastructure. As she served to provide new and effective ways to fight the war on terrorism, she also served as the senior advisor on IT interoperability, biometrics, geospatial, cyber and wireless technologies. As U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Deputy CIO, she helped transform USPTO electronic commerce and managed complex IT initiatives to modernize business process and data exchange systems. During Diaz's tenure as GSA’s Deputy Associate Administrator of Citizen Services, she created the government's first electronic government-wide citizen portal and shepherded many public-private partnerships from concept to delivery. She has provided executive leadership to the President's Management Council and was the pioneer creating many of the first e-Government initiatives such as USA.gov (FirstGov) and USA Services. Diaz also helped blaze a trail to sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia where she used her background in international business to help forge private-sector development, as an international consultant and with the U.S. Agency for International Development.