Deborah Stephens is the Acting Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this role, she is the principal advisor to the agency on the design, development, and management of its information systems and technology.
Ms. Stephens has served the USPTO for more than 25 years in multiple leadership roles. Previously, she was USPTO's Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO), serving as the principal advisor to the CIO. Her responsibilities included managing day-to-day OCIO operations, leading IT modernization efforts and guiding continual improvements to transform IT delivery for maximum stakeholder value.
Prior to the OCIO, she was the Associate Commissioner for the Office of Patent Information Management and provided strategic direction and administration on the improvement and enhancement of electronic processing of patent applications. As a leader passionate about technology and driving change, her teams deliver IT products and services to serve global stakeholders efficiently. As DCIO, she led an organizational transformation toward a product approach for enterprise IT delivery.
Stephens earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Mason University and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from George Washington University. In 2023, she received the Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership from the School of Public Affairs at American University.