Rich Baca

Rich Baca is the Chief Data Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Baca’s current initiatives include growing maturity for data governance, cloud platforms for data analytics and reporting, and open data.

With 30 years of public service, Baca has supported the USDA for the past 22 years. He has served in multiple roles leading the development of compliant and secure information technology solutions that help safeguard livestock and poultry populations. His current primary focus is advancing data as an asset for the Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area. Core initiatives include growing maturity for data governance, cloud platforms for data analytics and reporting, and open data. His previous USDA roles include Director of the USDA’s Veterinary Services (VS) Center for Informatics, Director of the Informatics Mapping and Analytical Services, and Director of Technology in the VS Office of the CIO.

Baca worked in the private sector for several companies, leading project management, business processes analysis and reengineering, development, and implementation for Fortune 500 and government clients. He also served as a computer specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey.

He earned his BS in Business Administration/Management from Regis University and a Senior Executive Fellows Certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School.