AI People

Amy Ritualo

Acting Chief Data and AI Officer, U.S. Department of State

–Present · American · Government AI policy · Data governance · Federal technology leadership

Legacy & significance

Ritualo sits at a position that barely existed five years ago: the combined Chief Data and AI Officer function inside a cabinet-level foreign policy agency. Her career was built entirely on the federal data and performance management side, monitoring and evaluation, division chief, deputy CDAO, making her one of the few senior government AI officers whose path to the role ran through data governance and program evaluation rather than technology procurement.

Major achievements & key works

  • Acting Chief Data and AI Officer, U.S. Department of State. Leads data and AI governance for U.S. foreign policy apparatus, one of the most sensitive data environments in the federal government.
  • Deputy CDAO, Department of State. Built and supported the data and AI function before taking the acting CDAO role.
  • Division Chief, DHS/USCIS. Led a division inside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, managing data and program performance for one of the federal government's highest-volume processing agencies.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Applied evaluation and data expertise to U.S. agricultural diplomacy and international food security programs.

Pivotal turning points

YearEventImpact
1997-1999Research Associate at Georgetown UniversityBuilds demographic and social science research foundation
1999-2001Research Associate, Annie E. Casey FoundationApplied research to social policy outcomes
2001-2003Data Analyst, International Labour OrganizationApplies data expertise in international context
2003-2004Project Director, Washington State DSHSLeads data and research project in state government
2004-2016Division Chief roles at Department of Labor and DHS/USCISBuilds federal data governance and performance management career
2016-presentSenior Advisor then Deputy and Acting CDAO, Department of StateLeads data and AI governance for U.S. foreign policy agency

Sources & further reading

Primary sources

Recommended secondary sources