NIH Appoints Adele Merritt as Chief Information Officer

NIH Director Monica M. Bertagnolli announced the appointment, highlighting Merritt’s extensive expertise in cybersecurity and national security operations spanning over two decades.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has named Adele Merritt as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), marking the agency's first permanent CIO in nearly two years.

Merritt assumed her role on Monday, December 18, alongside her position as director of NIH’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).

NIH Director Monica M. Bertagnolli announced the appointment, highlighting Merritt’s extensive expertise in cybersecurity and national security operations spanning over two decades.

Merritt previously served as the CIO for the US intelligence community and has held senior roles across various government agencies, including the Department of Energy and the White House National Security Council. A mathematician by training, Merritt’s experience uniquely positions her to lead NIH’s IT initiatives.

“Her breadth of experience and passion for harnessing technology to drive mission outcomes will be invaluable to NIH in advancing cutting-edge IT solutions in support of biomedical research and public health,” Bertagnolli stated.

Merritt succeeds Dennis Papula, who served as acting CIO and director of the OCIO since January 2023, following the retirement of longtime NIH CIO Andrea Norris.

Papula has now transitioned to a new role as CIO of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), starting December 15.

The announcement follows HHS's recent appointment of Jennifer Wendel as its permanent CIO. Wendel had been serving as acting CIO since the departure of Karl Mathias to NASA earlier this year.

Merritt’s appointment underscores NIH's commitment to strengthening its IT leadership to support its mission in biomedical research and public health advancements.

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