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Card-Catalog-Level Data Work Underway in Kentucky

Hiring a chief data officer last year helped kick off some transformational data work in the commonwealth of Kentucky, according to Chief Information Officer Chuck Grindle. Here, he outlines their progress so far.

Kentucky CIO Chuck Grindle
Government Technology
Last year, Kentucky joined the growing ranks of states that have a chief data officer. And as Chief Information Officer Chuck Grindle explained at the annual NASCIO conference in October, bringing Krishna Mohan Mupparaju on board has set the state on a path toward understanding each of the state's 2,400 databases at a granular level.

Early work included the development of an agreement that defines how agencies can share their data. But Grindle is quick to point out that it's more about governing how that data is shared. "That's not a carte blanche," he said. "It gives you the parameters of how you share data amongst agencies."

On the legislative side, lawmakers are also working on advancing open data sharing policies, as well as making cabinet-level agencies stewards of their public-facing data using a common platform, Grindle said. As of October, he reported that about half of the state's 11 cabinet secretaries had signed off on the approach.

A nearly 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Grindle, appointed by Gov. Matt Bevin, is still in place as CIO as of press time. But the recent election of Andy Beshear as governor could mean a new IT leader for the state. Beshear, son of former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, will take office next month.
 

Noelle Knell is the executive editor for e.Republic, responsible for setting the overall direction for e.Republic’s editorial platforms, including Government Technology, Governing, Industry Insider, Emergency Management and the Center for Digital Education. She has been with e.Republic since 2011, and has decades of writing, editing and leadership experience. A California native, Noelle has worked in both state and local government, and is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with majors in political science and American history.