AI opens up huge opportunities for agencies to change mission results

Sean Zerges is a program manager assigned to the Office of the Chief Technology Officer within the U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Information Technology (GSA IT). Zerges oversees the Digital Services and Solutions Strategy Divisions, providing leadership and planning in support of implementing GSA’s Digital Strategy. Serves as the primary point of contact between the GSA IT operations, shared services teams, and the senior leadership.

Zerges joined the U.S. General Services Administration in April 2018. Prior to joining GSA, he supported the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Enterprise Infrastructure Division. He led the enterprise Engineering & Cloud Services Branch to include managing the agency’s Technology Assessment & Compliance Center. Major initiatives included migration to a multi-site, converged-infrastructure hybrid-cloud solution, mobile device management implementation, as well as piloting solutions such as automated, multi-cloud application deployments and hyperconverged platform-as-a-service solutions.

Beginning his career in IT concurrently as a U.S. Air Force active-duty Milstar Command Post Terminal Operator as well as working after-hours as a contracted Satellite Operations Operator supporting 4th Space Operations Squadron. He continued this multi-vector approach toward accruing experience and exposure to technologies for several years. These include secure messaging, telephone switch operations, theater deployable communications suites, system and network administration, critical systems certification and accreditation assessments, communications security, wide-area wired and radio infrastructure installation, and endpoint management solutions. Having worked around the globe with all major DoD components, NATO, Federal Government and contact vendors, Zerges operates upon a foundation of wide technology breadth.

Zerges’ commitment extends beyond his civil service position. He is also a Staff Officer within the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and continues his USAF Reserves participation supporting the 51st Network Operations Squadron assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

Gil Alterovitz is the director of the National Artificial Intelligence Institute (NAII) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The NAII seeks to develop AI research and development capabilities in VA as a means to support veterans, their families, survivors, and caregivers. The Institute also designs, executes, and collaborates on large-scale AI research and development initiatives, national AI policy, and partnerships across agencies, industries, and academia.

Dr. Alterovitz has led national and international collaborative initiatives for developing novel informatics methods and approaches for integrating clinical, pharmaceutical, and genomic information, from research to point-of-care. He is also one of the core writers of the White House Office of Science Technology and Policy’s National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan, which was recently updated. The policy supports a national AI initiative and includes an additional strategic priority for public-private partnerships.

He has degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon in electrical, biomedical and computer engineering (including a doctorate). He is also a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women's Hospital.

His work on integrative methods for “big data” in the biomedical informatics space has been published or presented in more than 50 peer-reviewed publications ranging from academic journals and international conferences to three books (including “Systems Bioinformatics: An Engineering Case-based Approach,” ranked #1 in new Amazon bioinformatics category).

A native of Tampa, Florida, Rear Adm. David Hahn graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with distinction in 1985, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, he holds a Master of Business Administration from George Mason University and has completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI program in International Security Affairs.

Prior to command, he served at sea aboard USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN 633), USS William H. Bates (SSN 680) and USS Springfield (SSN 761), deploying to the North Atlantic and Western Pacific, as well as conducting several strategic deterrent patrols.

Ashore, he served as flag lieutenant to superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy; squadron engineer, Submarine Development Squadron (SUBDEVRON) 12; action officer, Joint Staff in the Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) Directorate; and legislative fellow on the staff of U.S. Senator John Warner.

Hahn commanded the USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) from September 2003 to January 2007. In command, he deployed to the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean and conducted an Engineered Overhaul in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Since becoming an acquisition professional in 2007, he has served as Joint Test and Evaluation test director and program manager, Advanced Submarine Research and Development and served as major program manager, Submarine Combat and Weapon Control Systems program.

Hahn’s first flag assignment was as the senior technical advisor to the deputy chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare/director of Naval Intelligence (OPNAV N2/N6).In November of 2016, he became the 26th chief of Naval Research with concurrent flag responsibilities as director, Innovation Technology Requirements and Test & Evaluation (OPNAV N94).

Hahn has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various campaign and unit awards.

Eric is responsible for helping Public Sector clients, both Federal and State and local entities, build, execute and accelerate their use of AI and Machine Learning. He is a proven technology leader with over 20 years' experience leading Public Sector divisions of successful disruptive startups. Prior to joining DataRobot, Eric held VP of Public Sector roles helping to generate hundreds of millions in revenue for companies including Pindrop, NETIQ (Acquired by Microfocus), and Starbase (Acquired by Borland). Eric holds an MBA from the University of Maryland in Management and MIS.

Jason Miller is an executive editor and reporter with Federal News Radio. As executive editor, Jason helps direct the news coverage of the station and works with reporters to ensure a broad range of coverage of federal technology, procurement, finance and human resource news.As a reporter, Jason focuses mainly on technology and procurement issues, including cybersecurity, e-government and acquisition policies and programs.