Scott Darnell oversees policy development, advocacy, programs, and strategic planning for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. In this capacity, he also directs the Leadership Albuquerque program and secured a $1.2 million grant from the Department of Justice to develop cutting-edge crime-fighting tools for police and prosecutors in Bernalillo County. In partnership with the Daniels Fund, Scott also facilitates the efforts of a six-organization coalition working to provide more New Mexico children access to high-quality public charter schools. 

Previously, Scott served as the Director of the Albuquerque Innovation Team (ABQ i-team), a city-affiliated entity funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies that conducted groundbreaking research on crime in Bernalillo County and worked with police, prosecutors, and others to launch several new, data-driven crime-fighting initiatives and collaborations. The team’s research on the characteristics and criminal behavior of arrestees in Bernalillo County was featured at a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine conference entitled “Principles of Data-Driven Decision Making.” 

From 2011 to 2016, Scott served as a senior advisor to New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez – first as her Director of Communications, and then as her Deputy Chief of Staff. He oversaw roughly half of the State’s cabinet agencies, as well as policy development, communications, speechwriting, and the management of the state budget. 

A recipient of the distinguished Public Service Fellowship, Scott earned a Master in Public Policy (MPP) degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government after graduating from the University of New Mexico as a Regents Scholar with a degree in political science, summa cum laude. While at Harvard, he twice earned the Certificate of Distinction in Teaching for his instructional work as a teaching fellow for a course entitled “The American Presidency.” He also authored a teaching case for the Harvard Kennedy School Case Program on the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

Scott is the President of Arrowhead Strategies, a consulting company that provides support in the areas of policy development, strategic communications, and organizational management to non-profit organizations and companies. He is also the founder and executive vice president of the Health Reformers Academy, a national organization training a new generation of health care policy advocates and staff.

Scott and his wife, Alexis, live in Albuquerque, New Mexico and are raising two boys – Jude, age 10 and Lucas, age 8.

Mr. Darnell previously served on the Community Advisory Board from 2019-2021.