Dive Brief:
- U.S. chief data scientist DJ Patil told attendees at Strata+Hadoop World that the federal government needs their skills to move federal government technology forward, according to CIO.com.
- "We firmly believe that every student has to have the opportunity to understand computers and to learn how to code," Patil said. "It's one of the basic tenets of living in our new economy."
- Patil also stressed the need for data scientists to understand data-related ethical issues such as "algorithmic transparency."
Dive Insight:
The federal government is struggling to update its aging technology infrastructure and manage cybersecurity weaknesses, and they need new tech talent to do both. That is one of the reasons why Patil is stressing the need for more people to learn coding skills.
In April, security risk benchmarking startup SecurityScorecard said U.S. federal, state and local government agencies rank lowest in cybersecurity when compared to the private sector.
Like the private sector, the government suffers from a tech talent vacuum. But its trying to compete for employees that would be paid more in the private sector for lucrative rolls. The White House is looking to bolster its cybersecurity workforce, in addition to the other roles. By prioritizing education and pushing for increased access, the White House hope to, at least in part, close the talent vacuum.
