Michael Hawes is the U.S. Census Bureau’s senior survey statistician for Scientific Communication. In this role, he is responsible for research and development in the area of scientific communication regarding agency initiatives and issues relating to access, management, quality, and confidentiality of Census Bureau data and statistical products. He also advises agency senior leadership on improving technical communication to scientific journals, government officials, agency partners, media, data users, and other stakeholders.

From 2019 until 2022, Michael served as the Census Bureau’s senior advisor for Data Access and Privacy where he was responsible for outreach and engagement with the Census Bureau’s data users on issues relating to the impact of statistical disclosure limitation methods on the accessibility and usability of census data. Prior to joining the Census Bureau, Michael served as the director of Student Privacy at the U.S. Department of Education where he was the department’s senior policy official responsible for the administration and enforcement of federal laws governing the privacy and confidentiality of education records. Michael also served as privacy consultant to the Federal Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking.

Michael is a member of the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) and serves as vice-chair of the FCSM-sponsored Federal Disclosure Review Officer Council. He is a certified government privacy professional (CIPP/G), a Project Management Professional (PMP), and a senior fellow of the Partnership for Public Service’s Excellence in Government program. He also serves as an appointed member of the American Statistical Association’s (ASA) Privacy and Confidentiality Committee.