Jennifer Pahlka is a pioneering civic technology leader and founder of Code for America, a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2009 to promote civic hacking and bring 21st century technology to government. Her work has fundamentally transformed how citizens interact with government services through user-centered design and technology innovation. A notable achievement includes reimagining California's food assistance program application—reducing what was once a 45-minute computer-based process to a mobile-friendly application completable in under 10 minutes, significantly increasing program participation.
In 2013, Pahlka took a leave of absence from Code for America to serve as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama, where she played a crucial role in founding the United States Digital Service (USDS). Her vision was to create an organization equivalent to the UK Government Digital Service that could systematically improve how government serves the public. Later, at the start of the pandemic, she co-founded U.S. Digital Response to provide volunteer tech support helping government meet public needs during the crisis.
In June 2023, Pahlka published her book "Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better," which was recognized as one of NPR's Best Books of 2023. As a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center and Federation of American Scientists, she continues to advocate for reforming government systems to prioritize people over outdated policies.
Current Role: Senior Fellow, Niskanen Center and Federation of American Scientists; Advisor to the Abundance Network
Affiliations: Code for America (Founder), United States Digital Service (Co-founder), U.S. Digital Response (Co-founder), Ashoka Fellow
Location: Washington, DC
Jennifer Pahlka founded Code for America in 2010 and led the organization for ten years, establishing civic technology as a movement that leverages design and technology expertise to improve public access to government services and data. Her leadership at Code for America formalized civic tech principles that influenced governments and organizations worldwide.
In 2013, she served as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer, where she managed multiple rounds of the President's Innovation Fellows program and was instrumental in establishing the United States Digital Service. In 2020, she stepped down from her CEO role at Code for America and subsequently co-founded U.S. Digital Response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recognized by Ashoka as a fellow, Pahlka has become one of the most influential voices in government technology reform. Her published works and speaking engagements address the critical gap between how government systems are built and the needs of citizens in the digital age.
Website: jenniferpahlka.com (includes contact form)
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jpahlka/
Organization Websites: