Jennifer Pahlka
Founder of Code for America, former US Deputy CTO and author of Recoding America.
At a glance
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- Jennifer Pahlka is an American author and advisor on how government delivers technology.
- She founded Code for America in 2009 and ran it until January 2020.
- From June 2013 to June 2014 she was US Deputy Chief Technology Officer and helped start the United States Digital Service.
- In 2023 she published Recoding America.
- She writes the newsletter Eating Policy, on state capacity.
Key facts
- Born
- 27 December 1969, Port Deposit, Maryland1
- Founded
- Code for America (2009); executive director until 31 January 2020; left its board in April 20231
- Government
- US Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Office of Science and Technology Policy, June 2013 to June 2014; helped found the United States Digital Service1
- Co-founded
- United States Digital Response (March 2020); East Bay Mini Maker Faire1
- Before
- Eight years at CMP Media leading its Game Group (Game Developers Conference, Game Developer Magazine, Gamasutra); co-chair of the Web 2.0 events from 2005 to 20091
- Book
- Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better (Metropolitan Books, 2023)1
- Now
- Board chair and advisor, Recoding America Fund; advisor to the Abundance Network (as of 2026)2
- Education
- BA in American Studies, Yale University (1991)1
Roles
Founded
Before
Leads until Jan 2020
Code for America (executive director) source on Code for America
On the board of until Apr 2023
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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