Are you an innovator? Tweet the federal CIO or CTO.

Think it takes all sorts of wrangling with public affairs folks to connect with a senior government official? Not if you’re trying to talk to the federal CTO or CIO.

Addressing an audience at FedScoop’s June 20 U.S. Innovation Summit on how to unleash the power of digital government, federal CTO Todd Park and colleague federal CIO Steven VanRoekel urged citizens, feds and industry alike to reach out to them about data initiatives and ideas around innovation.

“If you’re a developer or know developers or people ... who have great ideas, not only let us know but start working with this stuff,” VanRoekel said. “Work with your favorite agencies on saying, ‘hey, if this data was unlocked, I can do this amazing thing.’ We want to hear about those things.”

VanRoekel urged people to tweet both him (@stevenvDC) and Park (@todd_park) to share ideas and insight.

Those who want to make a difference and help grow the U.S. economy as well as foster innovation should look at healthdata.gov and similar data initiatives “and come up with brilliant ideas” and then submit their prototypes and platforms for consideration to be exhibited at upcoming “datapaloozas,” Park said.

Park also welcomed constructive criticism around the different federal data initiatives, saying the only way to improve government information is to get feedback from users.

“You can actually both tweet us or, if you like, email me directly at tpark@ostp.eop.gov,” he said. “If you’ve heard me speak before, you know that I read my own email and [follow] protocol which is that if I don’t get back to you in 72 hours, please reply with ‘You idiot’ and I’ll search and reply.”