Katague will be responsible for leading internal and external communications activities, including overseeing marketing, public affairs, congressional and intergovernmental affairs, partner engagement and media relations.

Before joining the Census Bureau, Katague was director of the California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office, which was the communications campaign to ensure a complete population count of historically undercounted Californians.

Katague also led California’s decennial census outreach efforts in 2000 and 2010, and from 2012 to 2018 served on the Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee on Race, Ethnicities and Other Populations, including three years as chair.

Robert Santos, director at the Census Bureau, said: “Ditas Katague brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership to the Census Bureau.

“I congratulate Ms Katague on her appointment and look forward to working with her to help communicate the important work of the Census Bureau to the American people, government leaders and policymakers.”