Meet Kansas City’s new chief innovation officer
November 10, 2015 | Bobby Burch
After a six-month search, the City of Kansas City, Mo., has found a candidate to lead its various tech and innovation initiatives.
Bob Bennett
Kansas City hired Bob Bennett, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Army, as the city’s second-ever chief innovation officer and will begin leading the City of Fountains’ various tech operations in January. Bennett succeeds Ashley Hand who left the post in June.
City officials said that Bennett — now an instructor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth — will be tasked with finding innovative ways to solve city problems and improve citizen satisfaction. Among the programs that Bennett will lead for the city are: the KCStat initiative; the implementation of the KC Digital Roadmap; the Cisco Smart City initiative; work with the Mayor’s Challenge Cabinet to enhance civic engagement; and “create a culture of innovation within City Hall.”
Kansas City Mayor Sly James said that he was impressed with Bennett’s leadership.
“Bob’s experience leading process improvement strategies and efficiencies at the highest military levels will renew efforts throughout city government to make Kansas City more effective for all citizens,” James said in a release. “His talent and enthusiasm will focus the City’s efficiency and digital momentum to even greater success.”
A graduate of West Point, Bennett’s more than two decades of service includes some impressive accolades and experience.
Bennett, 47, has planned a variety of combat, humanitarian and training operations for hundreds of troops in Iraq, the city said. He commanded a support battalion for a 6,000-soldier brigade deployed to Iraq with trained replacements, medical support for wounded soldiers and care of families whose soldiers were deployed. Also while in Iraq, he wrote and implemented threat strategies affecting the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Agency of International Development.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to transition the planning and innovation skills that I developed in support of Army operations around the world to my hometown,” Bennett said in a release. “To be able to join the Mayor and City Manager’s team in Kansas City and work to accelerate and maximize Kansas City’s technological and innovation prowess is a dream come true.”
In addition, the Kansas City-native previously served as chief of operations for U.S. Army Africa, planning more than 500 annual military and humanitarian assistance operations, including development of digital tracking systems for Army personnel travelling on the continent.
Bennett is also active as a volunteer with the Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America and VFW Post 7356.
Featured Business
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Help from above: Why protecting satellites from cyber attacks could hold key to adapting to climate change
Humans must responsibly rise to the occasion as Earth’s climate changes, Charles Beames said, detailing the role well-protected satellites and space systems can play in putting life-preserving solutions into orbit. “Space systems are one of the keys to the future, our future, of dealing with the changing climate and our adaptation,” said Beames, aerospace expert and…
In the field: Industry-specific, hands-free voice tech helps ‘hero up’ data collecting workers
After years of research, Bruce Rasa and his team identified a consistent pain point for field workers: capturing data on-the-go and looping it back to their headquarters. They need a co-pilot, he said, noting the role played by KC-based Dexer (formerly AgVoice), agriculture’s first handsfree data capture service to help cross-industry specialists create records —…
New city flag designed for KC’s now (and tomorrow): Here’s where you’ll see it flying first
Kansas City is ushering in an era of growth and development, Jared Horman said, and the unveiling of a new municipal flag is just the way to recognize this new chapter. “The timing feels particularly exciting with the Chiefs headed to the Super Bowl, the opening of the new terminal at the airport and the…
Pushing without force: Founder credits accelerator’s collaborative ‘in the trenches’ guidance for overseas scaling success
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by the NMotion startup accelerator, but was independently produced by Startland News. The powerhouse mix of global and localized support David Biga received from the NMotion Growth Accelerator was well worth the program’s required exchange of equity, the proptech startup founder detailed. Particle Space — one of Startland News’…