COLERIDGE INITIATIVE ANNOUNCES THREE NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New Appointments Strengthen Coleridge's Expertise in Data Science, Governance, and Cybersecurity Leadership

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coleridge Initiative today announced the appointment of three distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors: Robert L. Santos, the 26th Director of the U.S. Census Bureau; Roland Cloutier, former Global Chief Security Officer of ByteDance/TikTok and ADP; and Kate Garman Burns, Director of State and Local Innovation at the Federation of American Scientists. Together, they bring decades of experience spanning data learning and ethics, national statistics, public-sector innovation, and global information security.

These appointments expand the Board's depth of expertise across key pillars of Coleridge's mission to accelerate state and federal government use of data more effectively for policymaking.

"Coleridge is at the forefront of advancing the responsible use of data for public good," said Ahu Yildirmaz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Coleridge Initiative. "Robert, Roland, and Kate each bring an extraordinary record of leadership and impact in their respective fields. Their addition is a strategic leap forward for Coleridge as we continue to expand partnerships and strengthen the infrastructure that enables governments to use data responsibly for the public good."

The Honorable Robert L. Santos is a nationally renowned statistician. He served as the presidentially appointed and senate-confirmed 26th director of the U.S. Census Bureau between January 2022 and February 2025. Read Full Biography

Roland Cloutier is a globally recognized cybersecurity and technology executive who has led enterprise protection programs for major multinational corporations, including TikTok and ADP. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he is the founder of The Business Protection Group and serves on multiple boards focused on cyber defense, privacy, and operational resilience. Read Full Biography

Kate Garman Burns is the Director of State and Local Innovation at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Previously, she served as Executive Director at MetroLab Network and brought this work to (FAS). She has also held the role of Senior Associate at Cityfi, a firm focused on fostering innovation and new thinking in the urban environment and been part of two mayoral administrations as Technology Policy Advisor for Mayor Jenny Durkan in Seattle, WA and Innovation Policy Advisor for Mayor Sly James in Kansas City, MO. Read Full Biography

"These new members bring not only remarkable professional experience, but also a shared commitment to advancing trust, ethics, and impactful uses of data in public policy," said Jeff Thomson, Chair of the Coleridge Board of Directors. "Their guidance on the Board will help position Coleridge for success and accelerate the translation of data into policy decisions that improve lives."

View the Full Coleridge Board of Directors .

About The Coleridge Initiative, Inc.
The Coleridge Initiative is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge provides secure data enclave services to a diverse range of clients, including 24 state government agencies and several federal agencies, through the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). The ADRF is a FedRAMP-authorized cloud-based platform that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. To learn more, visit www.coleridgeinitiative.org.

Media Contact: Nick Obourn, [email protected]

SOURCE Coleridge Initiative