Episodes

On today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Dr. Jamese Sims, Strategic Advisor for Federal Partnerships and Deputy Director of the Northern Gulf Institute at Mississippi State University. Dr. Sims sat down with us for a fascinating discussion about how her work uses AI to improve extreme weather forecasting through data collection and meteorology. Stay tuned to learn more about the tools used to predict and measure weather patterns, and how AI helps to imp...

On this episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Vince Pecoraro, Lead Program Manager of DAF Digital Transformation Office. Vince’s journey as an innovator was inspired by navigating roadblocks and creating the necessary tools to access software and other resources in the Air Force and with AFWERX. Stay tuned to hear more about the impact of defining the parameters within the AI space in order to support new projects and create lasting change. CDAO: https://www....

On today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Maj. Kelley Jhong, Warfighter in Residence of the Defense Innovation Unit in the Department of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. Kelley discussed her journey into AI while serving in the Army, and how that transition while having a non-technical background inspired her to support new training initiatives. Stay tuned as we take a deep dive into the world of new AI warfighting capabilities, and why...

Join us for another episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today as we sit down with Chief Technology Officer of the XVIII Airborne Corps of the US Army, Jock Padgett. Jock’s expertise in accessing and analyzing user data served as a fascinating launchpad for today’s conversation about what kinds of technologies are being implemented within the Army. Tune in as he discusses how crisis responses are being refined, and what kinds of challenges they encounter when trying to promote new to...

On today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Callie King, AI/ML Technical Project Manager at SAIC. Callie shared her journey into technology from journalism, and how that transition revealed to her the importance of understanding the future of the workforce. Stay tuned to learn more about how AI has been a resource for decision making within the government, and how responsible AI use is only achieved through accessible resources. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/...

On today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Ashish Bansal, Engineering Lead at Google. Ashish took us through the process of microchip design and what kinds of processes they help to streamline, as well as the attention to detail that programming requires. Stay tuned to hear more about what goes into refining the user experience on platforms like Twitch and Twitter, and the biggest differences he sees between Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. ...

On this episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Anil Chaudhry, Director of Technology and Ecosystem Security for the Office of the National Cyber Director. Anil’s dedication to leadership and public service throughout his career inspired him to use AI to support those outcomes. Listen in to learn about what he believes is the most efficient way to stay current with emerging technologies, and the importance of interacting with AI at every level in order to properl...

On today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Nicolas Chaillan, the former first U.S. Air Force and Space Force Chief Software Officer. Nicolas sat down with us today to discuss his early work with the Department of Homeland Security, Platform One, and the legacy his incentives have left within the department. Tune in to learn more about how the government should prioritize modernization in order to catch up to industry’s innovations, and why it’s so necessa...

Join us on another episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, as we sit down with Pamela Isom, CEO & Founder of IsAdvice & Consulting, LLC. Pamela shared with us her accomplishments within the AI space both professionally and personally, and what she hopes will be put in place for the next era of innovators. Listen in to hear what she believes will help drive and support equity with the implementation of AI and why preventing disinformation and disparities in the field of emerging t...

On today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Dr. Bill Streilein, Chief Technology Officer of the CDAO. Dr. Streilein sat down with us to discuss some of the most exciting topics in the world of AI, including a recently published open-letter critiquing different kinds of AI capabilities. Tune in as he shares how his work with the CDAO is encouraging a new era in experimentation, and how necessary it is to help us thoroughly understand the extent of these rap...

Today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today features Chief Roboticist of the U.S. Army, Dr. Bob Sadowski. Dr. Sadowski shares his journey into robotics and how it sparked an interest in working with AI and emerging technology. These tools helped him to assist in investing in innovation within the US Army. Stay tuned to learn more about the ways AI is being integrated as a foundational tool for problem-solving, and how AI literacy is a necessary component for leadership in the ...

On this episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Donny Davis, Chief Technologist for Open Source Software at ID Technologies. Donny shared how his exposure to complex systems during his time in the Army served as a catalyst for his interest in designing emerging technologies. Stay tuned to hear more about what he’s learned during his career working with AI and why he finds it necessary to, as he calls it: “automate the boring stuff”. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ T...

On today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, COL Kristin Saling sat down with us to discuss her work as the director of CG’s Innovation Cell at Army HRC, a role that requires data analysis and addressing the needs of each cohort in order to assign the required assistance and leadership. Tune in to learn more about the way AI is aiding these processes and how her team is creating new ways to tackle them. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewind AI: https://www.tradewindai.com...

Join us for another episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today to hear a conversation with Rob Johnston, Chief Scientist of Johnston Analytics. Rob sits down with us to discuss how his position as the former CIA Lessons Learned Officer taught him the importance of prioritizing the core functions within an organization, ultimately inspiring him to start his own. Listen in to hear more about the concepts that have become key philosophies in his work with Johnston Analytics, and why he ...

On this episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Amelie Koran, Director of External Technology Relations at Electronic Arts. She shared with us the highlights of her impressive career ranging from the federal government to Disney, and how she’s always inspired to find the fun in work she’s doing–whether in gameplay or cybersecurity. Stay tuned to learn more about how AI has influenced the future of gaming and content creation. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewin...

Join us for another episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today to hear a conversation with Dr. Mona Sloane, sociologist, assistant professor and researcher of Artificial intelligence and Society Research at New York University. Dr. Sloane has been an influential figure in restructuring the collective understanding of design and technology within social constructs. Listen in to hear a riveting discussion about how patterns of social discrimination have been reflected in AI algorithms ...

On today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by James Freeman, Founder and President of the Emerging Technology Institute. James turned his passion for using AI and technology to solve problems into a center for exploration and research through ETI. Tune in as he discusses the kinds of challenges ETI tackles on a daily basis and what projects they’re embarking on now. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewind AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ ATARC: https://ata...

On this episode of AI Proficiency, Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by author and consultant JL Hancock. JL describes how his background in the Navy exposed him to cutting-edge resources, serving as the foundation for his interest in spearheading his own projects. Tune in to learn more about why he was inspired to take risks in the field of emerging technologies, his detailed process for assessing them, and the threat that mitigating those risks often pose to modernization within the g...

In this episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Douglas Bennett, Co-CEO of AURA Technologies. Douglass sits down with us to share how he's been successful in running a company with his wife Anna, and how AURA's Co-CEO model has created a foundation for innovative collaboration. Tune in to hear how AURA has allowed Douglas to expand his framework for the future of AI, and the work they're doing to improve AI literacy both in the government and industry. CDAO: ht...

Our guest on this episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today is Nicolai Wadstrom, CEO, Founder, and General Partner of BootstrapLabs. His firm has been modernizing the way investors find and support technology-based startups across the country. Nicolai's interest in exploring the uncharted territory of AI led him to provide resources for entrepreneurs who are using that technology to create modern solutions. Listen in as he shares his process for finding scalable business models and ...

In today’s episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Captain Brian Erickson, the Chief Data Officer for the US Coast Guard. Captain Erickson discusses how his background as an aeronautical engineer served as a catalyst for his current role with the US Coast Guard and how AI literacy has been an influential tool for moving his team forward. Listen in as he shares how he has been instrumental in restructuring the organization to be data-focused, and his belief in the...

Join us for another episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today to hear a conversation with Ben McMartin, Senior Fellow at the Center for Government Contracting, George Mason University. Ben shares his introduction to Other Transitions (OTs), their steady evolution over the last decade, and the future of government contracting within the Department of Defense. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewind AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ ATARC: https://atarc.org/

Join us for another episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today as we sit down with our guest, Eric Sanchez, the director of the Physical Science Laboratory at New Mexico State University. He shares the lessons that shaped during his time in the military, how to maintain personal goals in a constantly-evolving field, and the necessary tools for effective leadership. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewind AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ ATARC: https://atarc.org/

On this episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Alexandr Wang, Founder and CEO of Scale AI. Alexandr has been a leading force in the future of AI innovation and sat down with us to discuss what challenges inspired him to start his company. Join us to learn more about the rising demand for high-quality data in the field, how AI should be properly utilized as a tool to solve modern issues, and the projects Scale AI plans to tackle next. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ ...