National Archives picks first 'chief innovation officer'

Editor's Note: This story was modified after its original publication to correct Wright's title.

Pamela Wright has been chosen as the National Archives’ first-ever chief innovation officer, effective Dec. 2.

Archivist of the United State David S. Ferriero made the announcement in a Nov. 30 statement.

“This new office is charged with fostering a culture of innovation at the National Archives, and I am pleased that Pamela Wright has been selected to lead it,” he said. ”With her extensive experience, proven leadership, and innovative spirit, she is well suited to lead this effort."

Wright’s tasks will include finding innovative ways to share the archives’ extensive holdings with the public. Her plan is to create an “Innovation Hub” to develop and launch collaborative projects, raise public challenges, and partner with the archival community, private sector and academia.

Wright has been at the National Archives since 2001. Her past seven years were spent promoting digital access and strategy. Wright previously served as the agency’s first chief digital access strategist and launched many of the National Archives’ social media platforms.

Her “Citizen Archivist Dashboard” initiative is intended to make National Archives records more accessible online by using crowdsourcing to tag, transcribe, and edit articles, as well as to upload and share scans or images of records.

Wright also represents the National Archives on the White House Open Government Working Group. Her efforts include several internal working groups and teams aimed at fostering the open government.