Justin Cole

This interest began at a very young age, watching my grandfather serve on my home town's planning board. Years later, my graduate school thesis on street sweeping in Pittsburgh afforded me the chance to go on a ride-along with a 30-year veteran of the Department of Public Works. 

‍

I began my work in public service in October 2020 as a Presidential Innovation Fellow. The fellowship reflected my own values of curiosity, inclusion, and service. It was both an extraordinary and humbling experience. Through the fellowship, I had the honor of working with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to implement rapid-phased prototyping to help the agency access innovative new technology. Additionally, I worked with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to help provide advice to the Executive Office of the President on matters related to science and technology.

‍

I am fortunate to be part of a compassionate, humble, and hard-working team that shares a united belief that the federal government can be a significant driver of more equitable outcomes. Gathering the right data is a necessary step in this effort, and every day is more exciting than the one before.

‍

I strongly believe that a government’s interactions with its citizens serve as the best opportunity to work towards building a trusting relationship. I have seen first hand the challenges that citizens face while trying to navigate complicated government user interfaces loaded with confusing jargon and complex instructions. Through my current role in public service, I am working to help remove some of those barriers.

‍