About Gavin Rozzi

Gavin Rozzi is the inaugural Director of the DHCR Data Center at New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs, where he leads digital transformation initiatives that bridge the gap between policy objectives and technical execution. In this role, Gavin has built an in-house civic technology team from the ground up—bringing modern development practices and frameworks to state government while maintaining compliance with security and accessibility standards.

My 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 me to operationalize complex policies effectively while modernizing public sector operations through strategic technology integration that makes government services more responsive and citizen-focused.

My work at the intersection of data science, public policy, and urban studies began in academia, where I 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, I established the lab's technical infrastructure and analytical capabilities, bridging computational methods with urban policy research. I also served as a Research Affiliate at the New Jersey State Policy Lab, where I 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. Through my affiliation with the Master of Public Informatics program at Rutgers University, I've contributed to training the next generation of civic technologists who bring data-driven approaches to public sector challenges.

Before joining government, I 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. I've also published open-source tools used by researchers nationwide, including zipcodeR, an R package available on CRAN. This combination of research leadership, civic technology innovation, and practical government experience positions me uniquely to tackle complex policy challenges through rigorous analytical methods and modern technical solutions.

I hold an M.S. in Data Science & Strategic Analytics and a B.A. in Political Science from Stockton University, where I graduated with a 4.0 and 3.9 GPA respectively. I am currently a candidate for the Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program, which I began in October 2025 and am on track to complete in September 2026. This comprehensive professional development program demonstrates my commitment to excellence in public sector leadership and deepens my expertise in New Jersey's governmental landscape. My work has been recognized with the Governor's Team of Excellence Award and first place in the NJ DEP GIS Mapping Contest.