Scientific American

Data science is not entirely new to Washington, D.C.—nor is DJ Patil, who was recently named as the U.S.’s first chief data scientist. Pres. Barack Obama’s administration launched Data.gov nearly six years ago and required all agencies to publish at least three “high-value” data sets to the publicly accessible Web site. Now it is Patil’s job, at least in part, to ensure that the government continues to release data in a variety of areas while ensuring that the information is not misused. 
 
Patil’s top priority on returning to Washington after several years as a data specialist at several tech companies and the venture capital firm Greylock Partners is the White House’s Precision Medicine Initiative. Obama launched the public health program in January with a $215 million investment in his 2016 budget to help prevent and treat diseases based on information that takes into account differences in individual patient’s genes, environment and lifestyle. To read further, please visit http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/first-white-house-data-chief-discusses-his-top-priorities/.