b'InsightsLed by a seasoned program manager, the portfolio andand trustworthy AI is at the center of my personal attention. If program optimization team conducts strategic portfoliowe are going to lead AI at a global scale, which is our mission, analysis and alignment of the AI investments. It looks at thethen focusing on humanitarian impacts is a must. Im helping investments and assesses what the department is doing into make sure we track societal impacts: that we are verifying, the AI space. This team keeps an eye out for capabilities thatvalidating, and looking to apply AI for goodness, equity, and ensure departmental and national security priorities are met.positive societal impacts. They bring gap analysis to the forefront. They also facilitate department-wide trustworthy and responsible AI practicesWe must be mindful, however, of the adversarial outcomes. through workshops. Moreover, they guide ethical AI practicesYoull find me operating throughout the department, working and focus on delivery of tool kits to enable and mitigate risks.with the national labs, and doing all that I can to facilitate Recently, this team stood up the responsible and trustworthysuccess for my office as well as the department. Then lastly, I AI task force.like creative problem solving and removing roadblocks. Thats where youll find mesomewhere trying to solve a problem The strategy and partnership development team, also ledand remove roadblocks out of my teams way.by a seasoned program manager, builds and ensures robust partnerships and customer excellence across internal, external,What has surprised you most since joiningand international boundaries. This team leads the strategicAI and Tech? communications for the office on AI. This includes the development of the DOE-wide AI strategy. The team providesI would like to see more talent and capabilities in the elite, innovative governance through operationalization anddepartment, particularly around responsible and trustworthy AI. administration of the AI Advancement Council.We have formed a Responsible and Trustworthy AI (R&T) task force and the participation is fantastic with great representation Finally, there is the leadership and administration area. Ourfrom the department. An example of why this is important is we focus is on understanding the impacts that were making want AI to fuel distributed energy fairness and not widen equity and how we can make an even greater impact and maximizegaps. AI can help if we integrate R&T practices. the return on the AI investments across the department. The leadership aspect of this team focuses on work forceThe R&T AI task force is a pleasant outcome and a little optimization and performance management.surprising because of some unknowns on my part. We have workforce development on the agenda with some successful What about your specific duties andactions. The budget appears better in 2023 and I hope the responsibilities as the director of the office? impacts continue so that an upward trend continues. One of our goals is to introduce operational practices and behaviors to guide I am responsible for ensuring that we are delivering cross- Ethical AI project management, development, and operations. cutting innovation and impacts through AI. Thats really myWe are very interested in an integrated environment for AI responsibility. Also, I have a passion for equity. So responsibledevelopment that can be leveraged across the department. 2022 IBM Center for The Business of Government 45'