Oregon Chief Data Officer to Depart for Private Sector

Kathryn Darnall Helms is closing out her tenure with the Oregon Department of Enterprise Information Services (EIS), where she served as chief data officer (CDO).

Helms began her role as CDO in January 2019. Since then she has helped to develop the state’s first data strategy and advanced efforts in enterprise data governance and transparency, said Hope Hiebert, EIS communications director.

“Her most recent project was a memorandum of understanding for data sharing between agencies,” Hiebert added in an email.

Helms’ final day with the state is July 11. She will be “pursuing a new calling in social work, counseling, and community services and support, specifically focused on LGBTQA+ communities at all stages of life, elder care and palliative care,” according to her LinkedIn profile.

Hiebert said the state is preparing to begin the recruitment process for the next CDO, and at this time, an interim CDO has not been named.

"But the Data Governance and Transparency team is working on all ongoing projects under the leadership of EIS’s chief operating officer," Hiebert added.