Elaine Ho

Elaine P. Ho serves as the Chief of Staff of the Unites States Digital Service, a tech start-up in the White House that seeks to deliver better government services to the American people through technology and design. In this role, she oversees all internal operations, including human capital and diversity and inclusion. Previously Elaine served as a White House Senior Policy Advisor, where she led the strategic coordination of several federal agencies, the National Security Council and the Office of the First Lady to implement Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learn initiative, a US government effort that seeks to provide quality education for adolescent girls worldwide.

Prior to joining the White House, Elaine held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff at the Internal Revenue Service. There, she was responsible for shaping and executing the strategic priorities of the IRS and helped to drive the effective performance and management of IRS’ global tax operations and its 87,000-person workforce.

Previously, Elaine served in senior roles leading transformative diversity and inclusion strategies for both the IRS and Department of Agriculture. Before coming into the federal government, Elaine began her career as a practicing attorney, serving more than four years in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps as a criminal prosecutor. She continues her military service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves.

Elaine also has experience in the private sector at the law firm, Paul Hastings LLP, specializing in employment law and diversity and inclusion. Elaine received her degree in civil engineering from Duke University and then earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida. She later pursued an executive certificate in Diversity Strategy from Georgetown University. Elaine is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia. She lives in Falls Church, Virginia with her husband and three beautiful children, ages 10, 7, and 5.