The U.S. Census Bureau recently swore in Robert Santos as its 26th director, making him the first Latino person to hold the position in U.S. history.
Santos, whose career spans 40 years in the fields of survey research, statistical design and analysis, was confirmed on Nov. 4, 2021, and sworn in on Jan. 5, a U.S. Department of Commerce press release said.
“I’m deeply honored and humbled to lead the federal government’s largest statistical agency," Santos said in the release. "I’ve spent the majority of my career with organizations dedicated to delivering credible and informative statistical analysis for the public good. Census Bureau data have been essential to that work. It is such an immense privilege to join the Census Bureau and its very talented team.”
Santos served as vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute for 15 years prior to his appointment, the release said. He also served as executive vice president and partner of NuStats, a social science research firm based in Austin, Texas.
The new director also held several leadership positions at some of the nation’s leading survey research organizations including the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan and Temple University’s Institute for Survey Research, the release said.
“Mr. Santos is a tremendous leader and I have full confidence that he will lead the Census Bureau with integrity in the years ahead,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the release. “The Census Bureau is an invaluable asset to our government and the American people, providing essential data for businesses, government leaders and policymakers to make informed decisions. I look forward to working with Mr. Santos and congratulate him on his appointment.”
