Meet Jennifer Pahlka: She Wants to Reboot the Way You Work

Jennifer Pahlka, the charasmatic founder of Code for America, perhaps best known for her inspiring TED talk " Coding a Better Government ," announced on her blog Thursday she will soon become a fed. She'll join the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as deputy chief technology officer for government innovation under U.S. CTO Todd Park, a man she says has been an inspiration.

"I want to gain a deeper understanding of what it’s like to work in government, with all of its challenges and opportunities," Pahlka said, noting her stint would be for one year.

While Code for America began with the notion those outside government could make a difference, "What we've learned is that the long term, sustainable change comes from harnessing the creativity and expertise of the people who work in government, and giving them tools to change the culture and the system from within," she said.

"It’s out of a deep respect for the heroes and heroines in government whom I’ve met over the last three years that I’d like to do some of my own public service. When I go to collaborate with future local government partners, I want to be able to say that I know a little bit more about where they’re coming from and the environment they work in," she said.

Pahlka will manage the Presidential Innovation Fellows program.

"The opportunity to be a part of the amazing innovation that is happening in Washington today is truly unique," she said.

Watch Pahlka's TED talk here:

( Top image via Flickr user shockeyk )