In this interview, Marcus Thornton, Deputy Chief Data Officer, Virginia Office of Data Governance and Analytics explores how integrated analytics is helping governments become more connected, data-driven, and citizen-focused. He explains why secure cloud platforms, trusted data sharing, and strong governance are essential to unlocking the full value of government data.
The discussion covers the importance of building relationships with data owners, establishing clear governance roles, and creating data-sharing agreements that balance accessibility with security. He also shares why successful innovation depends on strong foundations—including modern infrastructure, skilled teams, and high-quality data—and why AI initiatives should always be guided by clear use cases, ethical considerations, and responsible governance.
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