IE 11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Cycling Accident Claims the Life of White House Senior Tech Advisor Jake Brewer

Brewer, who worked to better connect technology and innovation to government, was killed Saturday during a charity cycling event in Maryland.

A cycling accident claimed life of a well-liked White House senior advisor during a cancer charity ride over the weekend in Maryland.

Senior technology advisor Jake Brewer, with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, was killed when he lost control of his bicycle on a sharp curve at the two-day Ride to Conquer Cancer Charity event Saturday.

In addition to being a husband and father, the 34-year-old and his wife, journalist Mary Katherine Ham, were expecting another child.

“I am heartbroken at the tragic loss of one of my advisors, Jake Brewer,” President Barack Obama said in a statement Sunday, “Simply put, Jake was one of the best. Armed with a brilliant mind, a big heart and an insatiable desire to give back, Jake devoted his life to empowering people and making government work better for them. He worked to give citizens a louder voice in our society.”

Among his other efforts, Brewer oversaw efforts to connect national technology and innovation assets with the administration, according to the White House. He also worked with federal agencies to accelerate the dissemination and use of workforce data for workforce training purposes.

“He had a generous heart and a vision for engaging with technology, data and most importantly each other, to create opportunity and find solutions together," Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith said in a written statement. "Jake lived and loved more in his 34 years than some people do in their whole lives."

Eyragon Eidam is the web editor for Government Technology magazine, after previously serving as assistant news editor and covering such topics as legislation, social media and public safety. He can be reached at eeidam@erepublic.com.