Paul Decker

About Paul Decker

I am President and CEO of Mathematica, an employee-owned research and analytics organization dedicated to improving public well-being through rigorous evidence and data-driven insight. Over nearly four decades at Mathematica, I have worked at the intersection of research, public policy, and organizational leadership—helping government agencies and philanthropic partners design, evaluate, and strengthen programs in education, labor, health, and social policy.My career began as a policy researcher and economist, leading large-scale evaluations for federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services. Over time, my role expanded to building new practice areas, developing research talent, and guiding Mathematica through periods of market change, technological transformation, and organizational growth. Today, Mathematica is a global organization with more than 1,100 staff and a growing portfolio that integrates traditional social science with modern data science and analytics.I am particularly interested in the future of evidence-based policymaking, the responsible use of AI in public programs, and leadership in mission-driven organizations. I have served as President of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) and regularly engage with policymakers, researchers, and academic audiences

Experience

1. President and CEO

   Mathematica

   Jul 1988 — Present · Princeton, NJ, US

   Mathematica is a pioneering nonpartisan, employee-owned research organization dedicated to improving public well-being. Our 1,900 experts conduct policy research, data collection, and data analytics that meet the highest standards of quality and objectivity, working with decision-makers across the public and private sectors. As President and CEO (2007-present), my responsibilities include identifying markets, setting vision and strategy, shaping values and standards, overseeing operations management, and organizing and developing senior leadership. Selected accomplishments:• Oversaw corporate growth to include twelve locations worldwide and 1,900 employees. Over the past 15 years, grew annual revenue organically from $100 million to more than $400 million and work backlog from $200 million to $1 billion. Led a complete turnover of senior management in response to retirements. Reorganized to align business units with clients. • Embracing and leveraging market disruption driven by technology advances and the proliferation of new data sources. Created a Data Analytics practice to enhance Mathematica’s ability to inform policy and program development decisions through sophisticated data management, data analytics, data mining, and predictive models.• Launched an International Business Unit to provide objective research to funders and policymakers tackling today\'s most pressing policy problems in countries throughout Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America.• Expanding the scope of work to include new perspectives, including a focus on how behavioral insights can be used to design better programs, and new methodological strategies, such as the application of Bayesian statistical methods to social program evaluations.

Education

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Ph.D., Economics

  1983 — 1988

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

• William & Mary

  B.A., Economics

  1979 — 1983

Skills

• Statistics
• Strategic Planning
• Political Science
• Fundraising
• Econometrics
• Proposal Writing
• Program Management
• International Relations
• Research Design
• Grants
• Policy
• Economics
• Health Policy
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Higher Education
• Quantitative Research
• Public Speaking
• Program Development
• Qualitative Research
• Non-Profits
• Economic Development
• Policy Analysis
• Program Evaluation
• Economic Research
• International Development
• Data Analysis
• Research
• Politics
• Stata
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Capacity Building
• Public Health
• Public Policy
• Development Economics
• Analysis
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Quantitative Analytics