Russ Rappel Schmid, is currently the Chief Data Officer for the state of Alaska where he is working to bring cross-departmental data analytics to Alaska, to support enterprise reporting, data literacy, and efforts to improve program efficiency and effectiveness across the state. He is also working on improving data sharing and transparency through the launch and growth of the state’s open data portal.
Previously he was a data analytics specialist for the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Arlington, Virginia. There, he worked with teams of other data analysts, auditors and investigators who used his work to aid in determining risks associated with potential audit topics and investigations. Prior to working in data analytics, Russ worked as an audit manager, responsible for a team of 5 auditors working in Cost, Revenue and Rates, Sales and Marketing and International Mail Operations.
Prior to working for the U.S. Postal Service, he worked for a short time as the Command Evaluation and Review Officer for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona, California. Here he worked directly for the Commanding Officer of the installation, helping ensure management and business processes were efficient and effective, and that controls over those processes were adequately designed and operating.