MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS JOHN PAUL FARMER AS CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

  Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed John Paul Farmer as the new Chief Technology Officer. As CTO, Farmer will lead the City’s efforts to use innovative technology to provide better services to all New Yorkers.

“Technology helps us provide equal access to services for all New Yorkers. I welcome John, who brings a wealth of experience working at the intersection of technology and public service. With his help, we will continue to innovate on behalf of all New Yorkers and further establish our city as a global leader in the tech field. I also want to thank Alby Bocanegra for his service as Interim Chief Technology Officer,” said Mayor de Blasio.

“New York is the greatest city in the world, and I’m thrilled to be joining the City of New York as Chief Technology Officer. As CTO, I will work to ensure that technology and innovation benefit all New Yorkers, in every borough, from every walk of life. Simply put, we’re going to solve problems. I‘m eager to get to work!” said Chief Technology Officer John Paul Farmer.

About John Paul Farmer

Farmer most recently worked at Microsoft as the Director of Technology & Civic Innovation, based in New York City. In this role, Farmer and his team established the company as a leader in the growing field of civic and urban tech through cross-sector partnerships and new product development. While building this new business unit, Farmer and his team worked in close collaboration with CUNY, Code for America, DataKind, Civic Hall, the NYCEDC, and others. Farmer served on the board of the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline, which works to deliver quality technology jobs for New Yorkers and quality talent for New York City’s businesses.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Farmer served as Senior Advisor for Innovation in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Barack Obama, where he was responsible for the portfolio of technology-based reforms and improvements to government operations, including co-creating and leading the Presidential Innovation Fellows program. He also founded the Innovation Project and has taught at Columbia University as an adjunct professor. Early in his career, Farmer played shortstop in the minor leagues for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Silicon Harlem is thrilled to have John Paul Farmer become the New York City Chief Technology Officer. John's experience in building inclusive opportunities in tech is well known throughout the city,” said Clayton Banks, CEO of Silicon Harlem. “John has had an impact on Harlem and all of upper Manhattan by supporting STEM programs, participating in galvanizing the community around tech, and accelerating innovation for economic growth. I can’t say enough about John and his commitment to digital literacy for all. John is a great addition to the technology leadership of New York City.”

“John is a phenomenal innovator at the intersection of public service and technology and will be a huge asset to the people of New York,” said Todd Park, Co-Founder & Chairman of Devoted Health and former United States Chief Technology Officer during the Obama Administration.

Farmer holds an M.B.A. with honors from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University and an A.B. with honors from Harvard University. He lives with his wife, Britt McCandless Farmer, in Greenwich Village. His first day as CTO is June 3^rd.

About the Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer

The Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer works to make broadband, smart city technologies, digital services, and the tech industry work for all New Yorkers.

Initiatives include:

NYCx Challenges: Challenges are open competitions that invite entrepreneurs, startups, technologists, researchers and tech professionals to help tackle specific priority problems of urban life. All Challenges aim to move New York City towards the principles laid out in Mayor De Blasio’s OneNYC plan: growth, equity, sustainability, and resilience.

The Guidelines for the Internet of Things (IoT): The Mayor’s Office of the CTO puts forth a set of best practices and resources for using smart technologies responsibly. More than 35 leading cities have signed on to New York City’s guidelines.

Smart City Initiatives: The Mayor’s Office of the CTO works across City agencies to find ways that smart technologies+ can improve services and equity for all New Yorkers.