Appointed in May 2017, Gopal Khanna leads the AHRQ’s efforts to develop the knowledge, tools, and data needed to improve the health care system and help Americans, health care professionals, and policymakers make informed health decisions.
Mr. Khanna possesses a wealth of public-sector experience in Federal and State governments and specializes in data-driven strategies to improve organizational performance. He comes to AHRQ from Illinois, where he directed the State’s Data Analytics Healthcare and Human Services Innovation Incubator. In that position, he led a cross-functional team to build a secure data pool with data from Illinois’ HHS agencies and other government entities to provide a 360-degree view of each person and family who receives State services to provide efficient program management, strategic policymaking, and customer-centric services delivery.
Mr. Khanna was also Minnesota's first chief information officer and served the second Bush Administration in senior policy positions including chief information officer and chief financial officer for the Peace Corps and chief financial officer of the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Administration.
Prior to his Government service, Mr. Khanna held executive positions in information technology, finance, operations, strategic planning, business development, consulting, and start-up ventures.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, mathematics, and political science from Christ Church College in Kanpur, India, and a master’s of business administration from the University of Maine. Mr. Khanna served as president of the National Association of State CIOs from 2008 to 2009, is a recipient of the prestigious Federal 100 Award, and has been recognized for his IT expertise in publications including Computerworld, Government Technology, Information Week and Twin Cities Business.
