FedInsider | Podcast | AI Revolution in Government: How it’s Changing the Landscape (E128)

With millions employed by the federal government, and the wide range of activities they are responsible for each day, how do we begin to make a technology like AI live up to its own billing and implement it in a way that makes the workforce more efficient?

In this week’s episode of Feds At the Edge, we’ve gathered agency and commercial thought leaders who share how their agencies will apply AI to meet their unique and individual needs.

Department of State: Using AI to Classify Diplomatic Cables
Government Accounting Office: Acquisition
Defense Innovation Unit: Aerospace Maintenance

Taka Ariga, Chief Data Scientist and Director of the Innovation lab for US GAO sees “applied” AI from a large-scale and shares how it should be considered a team sport with players who understand subtle concepts like biased databases to move project forward with compliance, ethics, and transparency paving the way.

Jaime Fitzgibbon, Program Manager of AI/ML Portfolio for the Defense Innovation unit shares how though AI proves to make DoD more efficient, military leaders remain cautious, but do appropriate a small budget toward AI.

And everyone is wondering about AI’s impact on data set selection. How do we ensure valuable findings for a valid conclusion?

Tune in on your favorite podcasting platform now.

To view this webinar: The AI Revolution in Government: How It’s Changing the Landscape of Work.

Featured Speakers:

Taka Ariga

Chief Data Scientist & Director, Innovation Lab

Taka Ariga is GAO’s first Chief Data Scientist and Director of the Innovation Lab. As an integral part of the Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team, he will help GAO develop and implement advanced analytical capabilities for its auditing practices. Prior to joining GAO, he held executive positions at Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with audit, compliance, legal, and regulated entities.

Taka earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He is natively fluent in both Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. In his spare time, Taka is a serious amateur classical chamber musician (performing on cello throughout the Washington DC region), as well as a competitive tennis player.

Chief Data Scientist & Director,
Innovation Lab, U.S. GAO

Jaime Fitzgibbon

AI/ML Program Manager

Jaime Fitzgibbon is a Program Manager in the Defense Innovation Unit’s Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Portfolio and founder of Ren.ai.sance Insights, an AI-focused advisory network based in Vienna, VA. She has over 18 years of strategic advisory, program management, product development and digital transformation experience. Ten of those years tackled bringing emerging technologies such as AI into the National Security and Intelligence problem space. With a Master’s Degree in International Public Policy, Ms. Fitzgibbon served as a presidential appointee in the Department of State’s Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, worked international democracy promotion programs at a DC-based NGO and helped pass the African Growth and Opportunity Act while working in the U.S. Senate. She continues to apply her skills of sound policy development and project execution to bridging the national security and emerging commercial technology divide.

AI/ML Portfolio Manager,
Defense Innovation Unit

Gretchen Stewart

Chief Data Scientist, Public Sector

Gretchen Stewart is the Chief Data Scientist for Intel’s public sector working closely with Intel’s Ecosystem of software, hardware, and partner vendors in developing solutions and programs focused on the convergence of high-performance computing and data analytics. In her solution architecture role, she is building data analytics/ AI/ ML practice within Intel working closely with federal and state government, research institutions, universities, energy, and advanced manufacturing customers. She has been working closely with customers on ethical and responsible AI, building it in and not bolting it on. In enhancing Intel’s ecosystem with these AI solutions and programs, she works with disruptors, start-up and mainstream software vendors to ensure governments, educational institutions and enterprise customers advance the future of research, have competitive advantages, build smarter cities and provided enhanced services to citizens.

She has over 20 years’ experience in the technology sector. Her last position prior to joining Intel was successfully leading the world-wide cross organization team as the Account General Manager for the US Air Force, working closely with AFWA, AFRL and USAF senior leadership to ensure support of the mission. Her extensive knowledge of and leadership experience with product life cycle development and bringing new products to market from conception to sales delivery ensured products were delivered on time and under budget.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Wells College and an MBA degree from Plymouth State University, along with leadership and branding certifications from Harvard and Dartmouth. She graduated with distinction in Harvard data analytics’ program jointly developed by Harvard Business School, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Harvard Faculty of Arts and Science in June 2019.

Outside of work, Gretchen is active in mentoring young women starting their careers through Women’s Unlimited in Boston. She is former President of the Lexington-Concord, greater Boston AFCEA chapter, and she is representing Intel on the AFCEA International Executive Board striving to promote STEM programs and dialogue with government, industry, and academia.

Chief Data Scientist,
Public Sector, Intel

Cason Schmit

Assistant Professor, Health Policy & Management

Cason Schmit is a licensed attorney and an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management where he actively researches the role of law in health systems. Schmit’s research experience lies at the intersection of law and health information technology, and explores privacy, confidentiality security, health information exchange, telehealth, big data ethics, and artificial intelligence governance. Based on this expertise, Schmit has served as an expert consultant to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Counsel of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), the National Committee for Vital and Health Statistics, and a major US health system, providing policy recommendations on the public health use of electronic health records. His work on policy innovations to manage the societal risks and benefits of artificial intelligence was featured in Science.

Prior to joining Texas A&M University, he worked for the CDC Public Health Law Program as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education legal fellow (2013-2015) and as a federal contractor (2015-2016). There he worked with public health professionals within CDC centers and offices and state, tribal, local, and territorial partners to promote the use of law as a tool to improve the public’s health. His research with CDC focused on the role of law in health system transformation, including the use of electronic health information to promote public health, state innovation models, pay-for-success initiatives, and pharmacists’ vaccination authority.

Assistant Professor, Health Policy & Management, Texas A&M University

Dr. Giorleny Altamirano Rayo

JD/PhD, Chief Data Scientist

Dr. Giorleny (“Gio”) Altamirano Rayo has 15 years of public service experience in various contexts, including the federal government and academia. In June 2023, she joined the Department of State Office of Management Strategy and Solutions Center for Analytics where she serves as the Department’s Chief Data Scientist and Responsible Artificial Intelligence Official.

Prior to joining the State Department, she spent 5 years at the Department of Labor as well as time as an applied researcher in U.S. academia and a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicaragua. Most recently, Dr. Altamirano Rayo spent two and a half years as the Senior Mathematical Statistician at the Chief Evaluation Office within the Department of Labor, where she worked to democratize reliable and safe statistical and AI/Machine Learning methods and led the behavioral economics and human-centered design/CX portfolio to benefit DOL’s 16 sub-agencies and regional offices.

Dr. Altamirano Rayo earned a JD from the American University (Nicaragua), an LLM from Vanderbilt with a Fulbright Scholarship, a PhD in Political Science from the University of Texas-Austin, and was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a Level 2 certified acquisition professional in program management and is certified in privacy by the Federal Privacy Council (FPC). She is also a former National Science Foundation Scholar. Gio is bilingual in English and Spanish and is fluent in Brazilian Portuguese.

JD/PhD, Chief Data Scientist,
Responsible AI Official,
Department of State

Steve Devoir

Managing Director, Industry Solutions

Steve DeVoir is the Managing Director, Industry Solutions for Public Sector at Cloudera, where he drives the global go-to-market strategy for the industry and advises account teams and customers on their data needs and strategy. Having started his career in the mass-storage software industry, he has more than 25 year of experience in the technology and management consulting sector leading strategic growth, program delivery, and business strategy to optimize the business value of emerging technologies including data analytics, IoT, and AI/ML for private and public sector clients.

Managing Director, Industry Solutions,
Public Sector, Cloudera

Scott Beliveau

Chief of Enterprise Advanced Analytics

Scott Beliveau currently serves as co-Lead Product Owner of the USPTO’s Enterprise Data and Analytics product, Director of Enterprise Data Architecture and Chief of Enterprise Advanced Analytics in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Mr. Beliveau began his career at the USPTO in 2002 as an Examiner in the Interactive Video Distribution art area (725).

With an eye towards empowering public innovation and improving USPTO operations, he co-founded the USPTO award winning data efforts delivering a data platform comprising one of the world’s largest collections of open innovation spanning over 200 years. Mr. Beliveau has constructively used USPTO data in a variety of ways including developing government leading operational use of AI, using advanced analytics to span disparate data silos, and improving customer service through emerging AI technologies. He continues to promote industry partnerships and public innovation to empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow new opportunities.

Mr. Beliveau received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Brown University and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. He lives in Alexandria VA, with his wife Rachel, his son Sam, and his loyal greyhound Fiona.

Chief of Enterprise Advanced Analytics,
IT Transformation Office

Randy Hayes

Vice President, Public Sector

Mr. Hayes is currently serving VAST Data Federal as the Vice President of Public Sector.

VAST has fundamentally rethought data storage to bring an end to the hard drive era. VAST’s Universal Storage data platform is designed to provide customers with high-performance and affordable access to all their data, without compromising scale.

He holds a BA in Information Systems, Business Administration, and Computer Science from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. He is married with 3 beautiful daughters and resides in Arlington, VA.

Vice President, Public Sector,
Vast Data Federal

Jane Norris

Contributing Editor

Jane Norris a contributing editor to FedInsider, is committed to advancing government communications and putting people first in every regard.

Jane brings a lifetime career in media and government to her role. She has held senior roles at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As a consultant and public relations lead, she worked to execute priority issues for two powerhouse government contracting firms creating successful communications strategies for issues like, technology modernization, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, customer experience, human centered design, health and economic policy, the government workforce and employee engagement.

Jane’s private sector career also includes on-air work with multiple radio and television stations, most recently as a daily drive-time host on Federal News Radio/WTOP in Washington DC.

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AI Revolution in Government: How it’s Changing the Landscape (E128)

Featured Speakers:

Chief Data Scientist & Director,
Innovation Lab, U.S. GAO

AI/ML Portfolio Manager,
Defense Innovation Unit

Chief Data Scientist,
Public Sector, Intel

Assistant Professor, Health Policy & Management, Texas A&M University

JD/PhD, Chief Data Scientist,
Responsible AI Official,
Department of State

Managing Director, Industry Solutions,
Public Sector, Cloudera

Chief of Enterprise Advanced Analytics,
IT Transformation Office

Vice President, Public Sector,
Vast Data Federal

Moderator & Contributing Editor,
FedInsider

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AI Revolution in Government: How it’s Changing the Landscape (E128)

AI Revolution in Government: How it’s Changing the Landscape (E128)

Featured Speakers:

Chief Data Scientist & Director, Innovation Lab, U.S. GAO

AI/ML Portfolio Manager, Defense Innovation Unit

Chief Data Scientist, Public Sector, Intel

Assistant Professor, Health Policy & Management, Texas A&M University

JD/PhD, Chief Data Scientist, Responsible AI Official, Department of State

Managing Director, Industry Solutions, Public Sector, Cloudera

Chief of Enterprise Advanced Analytics, IT Transformation Office

Vice President, Public Sector, Vast Data Federal

Moderator & Contributing Editor, FedInsider

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Chief Data Scientist & Director,
Innovation Lab, U.S. GAO

AI/ML Portfolio Manager,
Defense Innovation Unit

Chief Data Scientist,
Public Sector, Intel

JD/PhD, Chief Data Scientist,
Responsible AI Official,
Department of State

Managing Director, Industry Solutions,
Public Sector, Cloudera

Chief of Enterprise Advanced Analytics,
IT Transformation Office

Vice President, Public Sector,
Vast Data Federal

Moderator & Contributing Editor,
FedInsider