Curtis Ross

Curtis Ross is the long-serving Data Governance Lead for the Immigration Domain at the Department of Homeland Security, where he focuses on enhancing data quality and operational efficiency across the department. His mission is to drive continuous improvement within DHS by fostering collaboration and leveraging advanced technology to safeguard national security and streamline service delivery.

He orchestrated development of the Immigration Data Integration Initiative (IDII), a landmark project establishing a comprehensive data governance framework across DHS that enhanced data interoperability and operational efficiency. He also led the Department’s Data Stewardship Tactical Working Group (DSTWG), a collaborative initiative involving over 800 professionals from agencies such as USCIS, CBP, ICE, and the Social Security Administration. The DSTWG focuses on enhancing the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of reference data, which is crucial for data integration and interoperability across DHS systems. Ross also serves as the DHS Standard Tables Authorizing Official, overseeing the technical framework for reference data management across the Department.

Prior to his current role, Ross held leadership positions within USCIS, including leading business intelligence and analytics efforts and developing the DSTWG governance structure. He directed a USCIS-wide data harmonization strategy that significantly enhanced data quality and interoperability across DHS. His career at DHS began in 2007 when he was recruited to work on a significant immigration data initiative. Previously, he was a data management specialist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  His technical expertise spans information systems, programming, and database management, which has been instrumental in advancing DHS’s data governance initiatives.

Ross earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University.