The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the initial hiring of 10 members for its newly established AI Corps. This information marks a significant step in the federal government's efforts to integrate artificial intelligence expertise.
U.S. officials stress the necessity of harnessing AI tools effectively and safely across various government functions. The AI Corps, which will eventually include 50 members, is designed to explore AI applications within DHS. Their focus areas include countering fentanyl trafficking, combating online child sexual exploitation, and enhancing cybersecurity.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted the strong interest in the AI Corps. “We need that expertise to really fuel our interest in leading the federal government in the safe and responsible deployment of AI to advance our mission,” Mayorkas said.
The first cohort of AI Corps members includes:
- Sadaf Asrar, a former AI tech expert for the National Center for Education Statistics
- Zach Fasnacht, previously a senior product manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
- Pramod Gadde, a founder of several healthcare-related startups, including AI startup Confidante
- Sean Harvey, former lead for YouTube's trust and safety team focused on global elections and misinformation
- Jenny Kim, a principal product manager at McKinsey & Co. and an alumna of the DHS Digital Service
- Babatunde Oguntade, a senior principal data scientist at CACI International, which supported agencies like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- Christine Palmer, former chief technology officer of the U.S. Naval Observatory
- Dr. Stephen Quirolgico, who has worked on advanced technology projects at DHS, NIST, and DARPA
- Raquel Romano, a senior director of engineering at Fora and a U.S. Digital Services alumnus
- Robin Rosenberger, a director in the Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office
Competition for these roles has been intense. DHS received over 3,000 applications for the 50 available spots. The newly elected members come from diverse backgrounds, including government positions, Big Tech companies, startups, and the research community.
Mayorkas noted that new flexible hiring practices have enabled DHS to better compete with private sector roles and expedite the hiring process. “Things move more rapidly, and so we’re moving more rapidly, as well, to meet the moment,” he added.