He shared the news Monday in a LinkedIn post, though details about the precise timing of his departure and any plans for a successor have not yet been made public.
In the post, Pfeil reflected on his time as CDO, a position he held during a pivotal chapter in the state’s approach to data strategy.
“Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside passionate public servants, visionary leaders, and talented technologists — all committed to using data to develop the best possible outcomes to benefit all Virginians,” he wrote. “Serving as Virginia’s CDO has been one of the greatest honors of my career.”
Pfeil highlighted several initiatives he helped lead to strengthen data use across state government, including the launch of the Commonwealth Data Trust (CDT) and backing for data-sharing legislation. The state earned an A grade in the 2024 Digital States Survey from the Center for Digital Government*, in part for enhancing its data governance framework — which in turn helped CDT grow by 300 percent in two years.
The CDO was also instrumental in giving the Office of Data Governance and Analytics (ODGA) a permanent home within the Virginia Information Technologies Agency — a contribution acknowledged by the governor’s office.
In an emailed statement, Peter A. Finocchio, the governor’s press secretary, said the governor “thanks Mr. Pfeil for his service to the commonwealth and to his fellow Virginians” and is “especially grateful to Mr. Pfeil for his leadership in establishing the ODGA.”
Pfeil shared his optimism about Virginia’s future on LinkedIn and expressed gratitude for the support he received from the administration and state agency partners.
“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished, and even more excited about where Virginia’s data journey is headed,” Pfeil said.
*The Center for Digital Government is part of e.Republic, Government Technology’s parent company.
