Federal Government Open Data Policy – Variations on a Theme for Bureau Implementation

Missions, not policy, drive agencies. The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) mission is promoting appropriate and multiple uses, while preserving the health of federal lands. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is tasked with managing water and hydropower resources in the Western U.S. In 2013 an Open Data Executive Order directed all federal agencies to publish an inventory of their data and make data where appropriate available in machine-readable format. At the Department of the Interior (DOI), the parent agency of BLM and BOR, an electronic repository was created that will manage this inventory. This presentation will discuss:

Guidance being developed by the DOI and its bureaus for managing the data assets
The different strategies of the BLM and BOR; one with an existing governance structure and network of data stewards, and one is to seize upon opportunities discovered at the grassroots level
Discuss challenges with funding, mission balance and culture
How they both are supporting the Executive Order

Christine Hawkinson is the Bureau Data Administrator for the BLM. Her responsibilities include the development of policy and guidance for the management of data at the BLM. She has been with the BLM for 10 years, the last three years as an employee and as a contractor. She has worked in data management for over 20 years for several companies, including MCI WorldCom, St. Paul Companies and the Denver Water Department.

Jim Nagode has been the Data Resource Manager at the Bureau of Reclamation since 2005, working to develop programs in data management and stewardship in mission-specific areas and creating communities of practice. He worked as an IT professional with JD Edwards, Peoplesoft and Oracle. Jim’s first job after college was a research scientist in a government laboratory, developing new materials for marine applications. Jim currently resides in Golden, Colorado.