Gavin Rozzi: Digital Transformation & Civic Technology Executive

I'm Gavin Rozzi, the inaugural Director of the DHCR Data Center at New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs. When I started in this role, I faced a choice that every government technology leader encounters: build another vendor-dependent system, or invest in people who could grow with our mission. I chose the latter. Today, I lead a team I recruited and developed through the civil service system—developers and analysts who bring modern engineering practices to state government while navigating the realities of security requirements, accessibility standards, and legacy system constraints.

Gavin Rozzi's work focuses on three core pillars: data science and analytics that drive evidence-based decision-making, digital transformation that modernizes legacy systems and processes, and full-stack web development that creates intuitive, resident-first digital experiences. This approach is underpinned by a deep understanding of policy development and implementation, enabling him to operationalize complex policies effectively while modernizing public sector operations through strategic technology integration that makes government services more responsive and citizen-focused.

Gavin Rozzi's work at the intersection of data science, public policy, and urban studies began in academia, where he served as the founding Data Scientist at the Rutgers Urban and Civic Informatics Lab—a flagship research center of the executive dean. In this pioneering role, he established the lab's technical infrastructure and analytical capabilities, bridging computational methods with urban policy research. He also served as a Research Affiliate at the New Jersey State Policy Lab, where he led a critical research project examining the opioid crisis through advanced spatial data analysis, applying geographic information systems and statistical modeling to inform state-level policy interventions.

Before joining government, Gavin Rozzi founded OPRAmachine, New Jersey's first statewide freedom of information platform, which has processed over 75,000 public records requests and released 250GB of government data. He has also published open-source tools used by researchers nationwide, including zipcodeR, an R package available on CRAN with 49 peer-reviewed citations in journals including Nature and Cancer Discovery. This combination of research leadership, civic technology innovation, and practical government experience positions Gavin Rozzi uniquely to tackle complex policy challenges through rigorous analytical methods and modern technical solutions.

Gavin Rozzi holds an M.S. in Data Science & Strategic Analytics and a B.A. in Political Science from Stockton University, where he graduated with a 4.0 and 3.9 GPA respectively. He is currently a candidate for the Certified Public Manager (CPM) credential—a nationally recognized public management certification, which he began in October 2025 and is on track to complete in September 2026. His capstone project focuses on customer service modernization for housing programs. Gavin Rozzi's work has been recognized with the Governor's Team of Excellence Award and first place in the NJ DEP GIS Mapping Contest.

My Leadership Philosophy: The best government technology doesn't come from fighting institutional constraints—it comes from understanding them. I've learned that real change happens when you demonstrate value incrementally, build trust with every stakeholder, and create capacity that will outlast any single initiative. My approach centers on translating policy intent into systems that actually work, building coalitions across organizational boundaries, and respecting the rhythms that shape how government operates. The goal isn't just better technology—it's building institutional muscle that continues strengthening long after any project ends.

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