Data Foundation Names Taka Ariga as Senior Director of the Center for Data Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 22, 2026 — The Data Foundation today announced the appointment of Taka Ariga as Senior Director of its Center for Data Policy. Ariga, currently a Senior Fellow at the Data Foundation, will lead the Center's research, policy, and stakeholder engagement work on federal data infrastructure, AI-ready data, and the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern data across the public sector.

Ariga brings more than two decades of public- and private-sector data leadership to the role. He previously served as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Chief Data Officer and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, and before that was the first Chief Data Scientist and Director of the Innovation Lab at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). He is also the founder of Sol Imagination, an AI advisory firm. Earlier in his career, Ariga held executive roles at Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

"Taka is one of the most thoughtful and operationally grounded data leaders in the country," said Nick Hart, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Data Foundation. "He has built data and AI capabilities inside federal agencies, advised on fraud prevention and audit innovation at the highest levels of government, and pushed the field to take data quality and governance seriously as the foundation for trustworthy AI. As Congress and the Administration move forward on the priorities laid out in our 2026 Advocacy and Policy Agenda — from CIPSEA implementation to the integrity of the federal statistical system to AI-ready data — Taka is exactly the leader we need guiding the Center for Data Policy."

"The Data Foundation has been a clear, nonpartisan voice on the policies that determine whether government data is usable, trustworthy, and ready for the decisions ahead," said Ariga. "I'm honored to take on this role at a moment when the choices being made about federal data infrastructure will shape public trust, program integrity, and innovation for decades. I look forward to working with the Data Foundation's team, the Data Coalition community, and partners across government to advance practical, evidence-informed policy."

The Center for Data Policy, launched in 2024 as part of the more than a decade of data policy practice at the organization, focuses on the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern federal data collection, management, and use. Ariga succeeds Amanda Cash, who is returning to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the coming weeks. Under Dr. Cash's leadership, the Center for Data Policy advanced significant work on statistical agency independence, federal data infrastructure, and rapid-response advocacy on agency restructuring decisions affecting evidence and research capacity.

"Amanda has been an extraordinary leader and colleague," said Hart. "Her judgment, her policy depth, and her commitment to the people who depend on federal data have made the Data Foundation stronger. We are grateful for everything she has built here, and we wish her every success as she returns to HHS to continue serving the public."

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About the Data Foundation

The Data Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that champions the use of open data and evidence-informed public policy to make society better for everyone. As a nonpartisan think tank, we conduct research, collaborative thought leadership, and advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data. Our activities proactively address emerging data-related needs in the country with the goal of devising realistic solutions, accelerating policy coordination, and advancing innovation. The Data Foundation is recognized by Candid Guidestar with the Platinum Seal of Transparency and received 4-Stars from Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit www.datafoundation.org. (LEI: 254900I43CTC59RFW495)