Office of Digital Strategy
{{Short description|Executive Branch of the US federal government}}
{{Infobox US Cabinet
| post = White House Director of Digital Strategy
| insignia = The White House logo under Trump 2.0.jpg
| insigniasize = 175px
| incumbent = Christian Tom
| incumbentsince = June 30, 2023
| department = Executive Office of the President
White House Office
| reports_to = White House Chief of Staff
| appointer = President of the United States
| body =
| deputy = Tericka Lambert
}}The Office of Digital Strategy (ODS) is an Executive Branch agency that promotes the U.S. President's messaging through digital and social media. It is part of the White House Office and is led by the Assistant to the President and Director of Digital Strategy, who reports to the White House Chief of Staff. The incumbent director is Christian Tom.
Role
The Office of Digital Strategy (ODS) manages the President's and the White House's online communications across social media, digital influencers and creators, and creative production. ODS manages the White House Video Team and the Creative Design Shop, as well as whitehouse.gov. The department also collaborates with other internal teams as well as external ones, including Congressional offices and Cabinet agencies, on digital initiatives and event coverage.{{Cite web |title=Internship Departments |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/get-involved/internships/white-house-internship-program/internship-departments/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
Obama administration
Nate Lubin headed the office for part of president Barack Obama's tenure.{{cite news|author=Most Read Politics |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/05/01/white-house-digital-strategy-director-to-step-down-friday/ |title=White House digital strategy director to step down Friday |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2015-05-01 |access-date=2018-12-27}} Jason Goldman succeeded Lubin in 2015, serving as the first-ever U.S. Chief Digital Officer.{{cite web |last1=Farhi |first1=Arden |title=New senior adviser and chief digital officer at the White House |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-senior-adviser-and-chief-digital-officer-at-the-white-house/ |access-date=25 March 2015 |website=CBS News |publisher=CBS New |ref=}} Clay Dumas was the chief of staff for the Office of Digital Strategy, and Ashleigh Axios also worked in the office during Obama's presidency.{{Cite web|last=Bereznak|first=Alyssa|date=2017-02-08|title=The Digital Presidency of Donald Trump|url=https://www.theringer.com/2017/2/8/16036778/donald-trump-digital-presidency-barack-obama-e3072777675c|access-date=2022-02-03|website=The Ringer|language=en}} Peter Welsch also had a role.{{Cite web|title=News: News: Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering: Indiana University Bloomington|url=https://luddy.indiana.edu/news/story.html?story=Office-Digital-Strategy-White-House|access-date=2022-02-03|website=luddy.indiana.edu}}
Trump administration
Ory Rinat was the chief digital officer for Donald Trump's administration.{{Cite web|title=Ory Rinat {{!}} C-SPAN.org|url=https://www.c-span.org/person/?109368/OryRinat|access-date=2022-02-03|website=www.c-span.org}} The Trump administration reworked the Whitehouse.gov website and managed various social media tools, including Twitter, to communicate its messaging.{{Cite web|last=Samuelsohn|first=Darren|title=Trump needs time to make whitehouse.gov great again|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-white-house-website-delay-233860|access-date=2022-02-03|website=POLITICO|language=en}}
Biden administration
Rob Flaherty was appointed Director of Digital Strategy after serving on the Joe Biden presidential campaign as Digital Director and as the Digital Director for the Presidential Transition of Joe Biden. The Office of Social Media, headed by Dan Scavino during the Trump Administration, was transitioned back to the Office of Digital Strategy. Christian Tom took over the role in late June, 2023.
Organization
The Office of Digital Strategy, under the administration of Joe Biden as of July 2024, was as follows.
- Assistant to the President and Director of Digital Strategy: Christian Tom{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2023-06-30 |title=Statement from President Joe Biden on Christian L. Tom |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/30/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-christian-l-tom/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
- Chief of Staff for the Office of Digital Strategy: Evan Romero
- Staff Assistant: Deterrian Jones
- Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Digital Strategy: Patrick Stevenson
- Director of Partnerships: Marian Dimaano{{Cite web |title=Marian Dimaano |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/marian-dimaano/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
- Deputy Director of Partnerships: Morgan MacNaughton{{Cite web |title=White House |url=https://www.openthebooks.com/white-house/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Open The Books |language=en}}
- Director of Digital Engagement: Ariana Mushnick{{Cite web |last1=Tani |first1=Max |last2=Thompson |first2=Alex |date=2022-09-30 |title=Transition from hell |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2022/09/30/transition-from-hell-00059822 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}
- Digital Engagement Coordinator: Sam Schmir
- Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Digital Strategy: Tericka Lambert{{Cite web |last1=Stokols |first1=Eli |last2=Egan |first2=Lauren |date=2023-06-30 |title=How Biden prepped for a SCOTUS thumping |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2023/06/30/how-biden-prepped-for-a-scotus-thumping-00104472 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}
- Director of Platforms: Angela Krasnick{{Cite web |last1=Tani |first1=Max |last2=Thompson |first2=Alex |last3=Bice |first3=Allie |date=2022-06-29 |title=Karine's tough debut |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2022/06/29/karines-tough-debut-00043125 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}
- Deputy Director of Platforms: Megan Coyne{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Garrett |date=2022-08-27 |title=POLITICO Playbook: What's underneath all those redactions |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2022/08/27/whats-underneath-all-those-redactions-00054005 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}
- Deputy Director of Platforms: Avery Whitehead
- Deputy Director of Platforms: Andy Volosky{{Cite web |last=Andrew Miller |first=Cameron Cawthorne |date=2024-07-09 |title=New White House digital staffer cheered social media ban on Trump: 'What took them so long?' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-white-house-digital-staffer-cheered-social-media-ban-trump |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}
- Creative Director: Meena Yi
- Deputy Creative Director: Abbey Pitzer{{Cite web |title=100 Creative Interviews: Wisdom We’re Taking From Our Subjects |url=https://www.thecreativefactor.co/articles/100-creative-interviews |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=The Creative Factor |language=en-US}}
- Graphic Designer: Shae Greene
- Video Director: Melanie Duran{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Alex |date=2022-08-10 |title=Biden gets some closure |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2022/08/10/biden-gets-some-closure-00050907 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}
- Official Videographer for the President: Jenna Sumar
- Director of Presidential Video Production: Joy Ngugi{{Cite web |date=2024-07-01 |title=ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON WHITE HOUSE OFFICE PERSONNEL |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-July-1-Report-to-Congress.pdf |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}
- Senior Video Producer: Aaron Wilson Watson
- Senior Video Producer: Stephanie Shen
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/get-involved/internships/white-house-internship-program/internship-departments/#digital-strategy Section on whitehouse.gov]
Category:Executive Office of the President of the United States