Kristen Honey

Kristen Honey, PhD is the Chief Data Officer and Executive Director of “InnovationX” at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). She leads a team that advances evidence-based policymaking, data-driven innovation, and public-private partnerships.

She previously served as the HHS Acting CDO and Executive Director of Data Operations, as she established the Office of the CDO as required by the Foundations of Evidence-Based Policy Making Act of 2018.

Prior to joining HHS, she worked as a Policy Advisor to the U.S. Chief Technology Advisor (CTO) in the Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Obama administration and then as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the Trump administration.

Honey has authored and co-authored more than 80 non-referred government reports, book chapters, blogs, and peer-reviewed articles and has presented at more than 135 conferences and scientific meetings globally. She has received numerous honors and awards including the HHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to COVID-19 TDWG and the Gartner Innovation Award to HHS Protect for COVID-19.

She earned her PhD from Stanford University, a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz, and a BA in Human Biology from Stanford.