Distinguished guest David Spirk, Chief Data Office of the Department of Defense, joins the podcast to discuss how the CDO role is being used to accelerate AI adoption in the government. During their conversation they discuss some of the challenges in transforming an organization from data informed to data led, the role that the CDO plays in driving substantive change throughout an organization, what function he envisions AI will play in five years, and more topics. Dave was appointed as the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Chief Data Officer (CDO) in June 2020. In this role, he is responsible for standing up the DoD’s Data Office and driving a strong focus on warfighter needs, data governance, and a data-ready workforce to create a strong data culture across the department. Prior to his appointment as the CDO for the department, he held a number of high-profile leadership roles in the development of data and AI strategies as well as implementation at US Special Operations Command, US Special Operation Forces, Secretary of Air Force Office. He also held senior-level positions in leading intelligence operations at US Central Command and other places. Dave is a former Marine who served across echelons at various east coast elements setting the stage for many deployments throughout the Balkans, Africa, and South Asia. As a member of Task Force-58, more specifically the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), he participated in the seizure of Kandahar Airfield and the reopening of the American Embassy in Kabul. Following his time in Afghanistan, Dave received orders to USSOUTHCOM where he deployed to Colombia numerous times and held various analytic/targeting positions before receiving an honorable discharge.

Christina Ho is joined by seasoned analytics executives Taka Ariga and Renata Maziarz Miskell to discuss how AI is being applied to maximize the Oversight community’s impact with limited resources. Listen as they discuss the most significant business challenges and accountability concerns in Oversight due to the increased use of AI, how the Oversight community can share technology and human capital resources to become more effective, where they envision data science usage will be in the next 5 to 10 years given recent trends, and more topics. Taka Ariga is the first Chief Data Scientist appointed by the Comptroller General of the United States for the Government Accountability Office. He also leads GAO’s newly established Innovation Lab in driving problem-centric experiments across audit and operational teams through novel use of advanced analytics and emerging technologies. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, Taka is also responsible for working with GAO stakeholders to adopt prospective views on oversight impacts of emerging capabilities such as AI, cloud services, blockchains, RPA, 5G, and IoT. Renata Maziarz Miskell is the Acting Chief Data and Analytics Officer for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) where she works to empower HHS OIG to use data proactively to protect the integrity of HHS programs as well as the health and welfare of the people they serve. In her role, Renata focuses on developing and implementing advanced analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities to support OIG in efficiently and effectively executing its oversight mission.

Christina Ho is joined by prominent government leaders Larry Koskinen and Michael Peckham to discuss how AI is being applied to improve $700B worth of grantmaking. Listen as they discuss specific business challenges in grantmaking, opportunities in the grant space to leverage AI and other technology, and what some of their biggest lessons learned and motivators are after over 35 years in the government. Larry Koskinen has served the public interest for more than forty years through executive positions in the federal government, commercial professional services firms, and non-profit organizations—both within the United States and abroad. He is a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service, and is currently serving as Chief Risk Officer at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he leads HUD’s departmental enterprise and fraud risk management programs. Prior to joining HUD, he served as an executive in the federal Inspector General community, managing data analytics, finance, human capital, information technology, strategic planning and support operations at the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. He was Management Officer for Peace Corps International Operations and also Chief Business Architect. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. Michael Peckham is the Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Financial Management Portfolio for the DHHS Program Support Center. He is a champion for positive change, creating new approaches to old problems through human-centered design, agile methodologies, microservices architecture, and applying emerging technology to promote data driven business decisions. Mr. Peckham has successfully led multiple agency-wide initiatives including the ReImagine HHS ReInvent Grants Management transformation and the HHS DATA Act initiatives.

Alongside distinguished speakers Nick Sinai and Dr. John Elder, host Christina Ho explores questions about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to help businesses and government agencies solve complex and challenging problems. Nick Sinai is a Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, a leading global venture capital and private equity firm . Nick joined Insight in 2014 from the White House, where he was U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer. Among many accomplishments, he led President Obama’s Open Data Initiatives and helped start and grow the Presidential Innovation Fellows program, which brings entrepreneurs, innovators, and technologists into government. Nick is also a senior fellow and former adjunct faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School. Dr. John Elder founded Elder Research, a data science consulting firm with a 25-year history of leadership in machine learning and AI solutions. He invented some breakthrough techniques and co-authored 3 books on advanced analytics, 2 of which received book-of-the-year awards. John also served for 5 years on a panel appointed by President Bush to guide technology for National Security.