Dom Papa is a nationally recognized civic innovator, attorney, and coalition builder committed to creating thriving, inclusive communities through bold public-private collaboration.
With over a decade of experience at the intersection of government, technology, and economic development, Dom has led some of Arizona’s most impactful smart city and digital equity efforts. He founded the nation’s first Smart Region initiative, aligning 22 cities in Maricopa County under a shared framework for innovation and economic growth.. As Vice President for the Arizona Commerce Authority, he architected the state’s inaugural Smart State strategy at the Arizona Commerce Authority, helping Arizona attract major tech investments, scale AV testing zones, and advance infrastructure policy.
At Amazon Web Services, Dom helped governments harness the power of AI and the cloud. He launched dozens of smart city pilots and co-led a national network of innovation centers that empowered students and public servants alike to prototype real-world AI solutions. In his role as Chief Government Relations Officer for the Institute for Digital Inclusion Acceleration (IDIA), he helped secure $34.6 million in infrastructure funding from Maricopa County to establish a network of “HIVE†digital empowerment centers. These community-based hubs serve thousands across Arizona with workforce training, technology access, and telehealth navigation, an inclusive economic development model now expanding nationally.
Dom’s work doesn’t stop at the local level. He advised Ministers of Education and national leaders across Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa on building inclusive digital economies and embedding workforce-aligned curricula at scale.
A licensed attorney and graduate of Arizona State University, Dom holds a J.D., M.P.A., and an Executive Master’s in Global Business from Thunderbird. His thought leadership has been featured in national publications, and he’s frequently tapped to moderate panels and lead strategy labs on innovation, governance, and economic transformation.
Above all, Dom is driven by a simple belief: that collaboration is the next competitive advantage and that the most enduring change happens when cities, companies, and communities come together with shared purpose.