Aug. 17, 2020 — Benjamin A. Overholt, Ph.D., is joining the U.S. Census Bureau today as the Deputy Director for Data. In this role, he will support the Census Bureau in ensuring the 2020 Census data products are of the highest quality. He is experienced in data management, data analysis and decision support.

In total, Dr. Overholt has been in the federal civil service for over seven years, applying statistical methods to civil rights issues. Before joining the Census Bureau, he served as a lead statistician in the Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), where he earned the Meritorious Achievement Award (the second-highest award at the EEOC) for his work in data management. Before joining the EEOC, he was the sole statistician in the voting section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice for over five years.

Dr. Overholt earned both a Ph.D. and an M.S. in applied statistics and research methods from the University of Northern Colorado. While earning his degrees, he served 14 years in the U.S. Army; five of those years were spent mobilized or deployed on active duty. From 2003 to 2004, he was deployed as a team leader to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 2007 to 2010, he was mobilized to Fort Bliss, Texas, to train deploying reserve units in combat operations.

On the weekends, Dr. Overholt spends his free time with his wife and three children and serves as a deacon in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

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