Rafael Maldonado

Rafael Maldonado joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in 2021. Rafael has more than 30 years of experience in information technology and has served in leadership positions in both the private and public sectors. In his role, Rafael is responsible for the strategic development and advancement of the use of technology and cybersecurity for the Foundation. He provides leadership to the technology team and works closely with other RWJF executives, operations leadership, program leaders, and staff in implementing a modern and mission focused, enterprise-level technology strategy.  

Prior to joining RWJF, Rafael served as the vice president and chief information officer at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), the national trade association for franchised dealers, where he was the executive responsible for driving the association’s information technology vision to provide innovative solutions and services to their national members and international affiliates. Prior to NADA, Rafael was the global director of IT for ContourGlobal, a developer and operator of electric power generation businesses with more than 1,000 employees and 41 power plants in 14 countries, where he was the senior IT executive with full operating and systems planning responsibility leading all IT functions worldwide. Rafael was responsible for global IT strategic planning/operations for the company. Prior to ContourGlobal, Rafael served in IT leadership roles for ezStorage, the largest self-storage company in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and Ernst & Young Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ernst & Young.

Rafael served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1988 to 1998, with tours in Ft. Sill, Okla., Heidelberg, Germany, and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. As part of his service, he received several meritorious and commendation service medals as well as several leadership awards. 

Maldonado holds an MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute and a B.S. degree in computer information systems from Strayer University. 

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Rafael now resides in Ellicott City, Md., with his wife Maria, his daughter Gianelle, and his niece Ariely. He enjoys cooking for family and friends and traveling.