Headline Partner

Carin Quiroga, Chief Data Officer, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Describe your career to date

Since becoming the CDO, I have led the effort to unite a robust team of experienced professionals to create an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) IT Data Modernization (ITDM) Roadmap. The ITDM Roadmap monitors the progression, budgetary roadblocks, and risk mitigation strategies of 16 capability gaps.

In 2023 I was awarded Homeland Security Today’s Most Valuable Player – Data Advancement by Government Technology and Services Coalition (GTSC). I have over 25 years of experience in the informational technology sector.

How are you developing the data literacy of your organization, including the skills of your data teams and of your business stakeholders?

I implemented the Data Empowerment Program (DEP), which uses a data literacy survey as a benchmark to measure progress. Designed as an initiative to enhance data literacy across our organization, the DEP underscores the importance of foundational data knowledge, infrastructure, and to provide clean and accessible data for decision-making at every level. This initiative aligns people with the interest in being empowered by data with our mission and strategic objectives.

ICE relies on many different data sources to communicate its mission impact and story to key offices. As such, creating the tools and resources to improve storytelling is critical to enhancing transparency and assisting in ICE’s ability to respond to these requests. The DEP program is available to all ICE members to transform ICE into a more data-driven organization. We hold the belief that data literacy holds essential value for every department, directorate, and level at ICE.

What role do you play in building and delivering conventional artificial intelligence solutions, including machine learning models? Are you also involved in your organization’s adoption of generative AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) responsibility is in an office external to CDO; however, we still are an active member of the discussions. Our primary activity in support of generative AI is to focus on the foundations of data governance and management to help in the success of AI.

Have you set out a vision for data? If so, what is it aiming for and does it embrace the whole organization or just the data function?

ICE’s vision for data is to operate as a data driven organization by collecting the right data at the right time, driving automation, and using data to increase transparency. To achieve this, we are focusing on the following 4 goals:

1. Secure: Users know that ICE protects its data from unauthorized use.

2. Connected: Users across the agency connect and integrate with data communities.

3. Accessible: Users can locate and quickly retrieve data using tools and services.

4. Reliable: Users trust data for decision-making.

Carin Quiroga
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