Cole Named State Chief Innovation Officer

On Feb 1, 2024

Gov. Phil Murphy yesterday announced Dave Cole as chief innovation officer. In this role, Cole will lead the state’s Office of Innovation in its mission to drive innovation in the Garden State and improve the design and delivery of policies and services to the state’s residents, businesses, and institutions.

“I am proud to announce Dave Cole to serve as State Chief Innovation Officer, leading the New Jersey Office of Innovation,” said Murphy. “Dave’s applied experience and expertise will be an integral addition to my team and I am confident that he will successfully guide the Office of Innovation’s work to design and develop iterative, continuous improvements to state programs. I want to also thank Beth Noveck for her service to the state as its first Chief Innovation Officer, and look forward to her success as our first-ever Chief AI Strategist.”

“I am honored by the trust that Governor Murphy has placed in me to lead the Office of Innovation into its next chapter,” said Cole. “When we deliver government services that are responsive to residents’ needs, we restore trust and lift up our communities. In addition to our efforts to improve state benefits and services for residents, Governor Murphy’s day-one commitment to establishing New Jersey as the Innovation State has made it possible for us to make it easier than ever to start and operate a local business, enabling economic growth across our state. I am grateful for this opportunity to work with my colleagues across this Administration in service of the residents of New Jersey.”

Cole succeeds Dr. Beth Simone Noveck, who lead the Office of Innovation in 2018 when the governor appointed her as the state’s first-ever Chief Innovation Officer. Noveck has now transitioned to a new role as the state’s first-ever Chief Artificial Intelligence Strategist — an announcement Murphy made at his recent State of the State address.

“Dave’s commitment to improving the lives of New Jerseyans can only be surpassed by the results he’s delivered during his years helping lead the Office of Innovation — the Office’s future and mission is in capable and expert hands,” said Noveck. “I’m ecstatic to formally take on the new role of Chief AI Strategist to implement Governor Murphy’s vision of having New Jersey lead the nation in the advancement of AI in both the private and public sectors.”

Cole joined the Office of Innovation in 2020 to help the state respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and served as a technology co-lead for the state’s COVID-19 vaccination program. He also co-founded and led the Resident Experience Initiative at the Office of Innovation, collaborating with state agencies to design and implement digital services in support of new policies and programs.

Cole previously served as a senior advisor to the chief information officer and deputy director of new media in President Obama’s White House, was an early member of the General Services Administration’s 18F initiative, and was also previously a technology executive, overseeing international operations and business development at a high-growth start up. He played a key role in growing the company from 20 to over 500 employees, launching new products and managing teams in four countries.

Cole is a New Jersey native and graduate of Rutgers University.

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