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Timothy Persons

MEMBER SINCE: 2021

Timothy Persons profile headshot
Timothy Persons is an award-winning, innovative, strategic, and results-oriented executive with a proven record of accomplishment in digital services (e.g., AI, data analytics, quantum, cybersecurity), and has led in-depth analysis of myriad S&T issues. He is highly skilled in leading and driving positive organizational change and forging new digital institutional capabilities using agile, innovative, and data-driven approaches. Key accomplishments: (1) Re-established a rigorous, fact-based, nonpartisan, and nonideological congressional technology assessment capability, (2) Testified before the Congress on topics such as emerging infectious diseases, AI, U.S. innovation and competitiveness, and national S&T capabilities, (3) Founded GAO's Innovation Lab to research, develop, pilot, and deploy advanced analytics and emerging technologies in support of the evidence-based policymaking and oversight activities of the First Branch. (4) Developed and published GAO's internationally recognized series of best practices guides: lifecycle cost estimating, scheduling, technology readiness assessment, and Agile. (5) Co-founded the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity. He is a council member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable, a member of the Committee on Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation of the National Academy of Medicine, and a senior member of the Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE).

History of Employment

Position
Division
Organization
Start
End
Principal
Digital Assurance and Transparency
PricewaterhouseCoopers
2023
Present
Chief Scientist and Managing Director
Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
2008
2022
Technical Director
Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity
U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence
2003
2008
Technical Director
Quantum/Biometrics/Cybersecurity Research
U.S. National Security Agency
2001
2003
Graduate Research Fellow
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Wake Forest University
1997
2001
Radiation Physicist
Radiation Oncology Department
University of North-Carolina, Chapel Hill
1995
1997
Primary Policy Areas

Alternative Energy, Board Governance, Broadband, Commerce, Cybersecurity, Defense, Energy, Environment/Natural Resources, Government Operations/Innovation, Health Care, Homeland Security, Infrastructure, Intergovernmental System/Federalism, National Security, Oversight/Regulation, Science – Research and Development, Technology – Product Development, Transfer, Commercialization, Technology – Telecommunications, Information, Data Security

Primary Sector of Expertise

Federal

Primary Functions

Change Management, Data Analytics, Enterprise Risk Management, Information Technology, Intergovernmental, Organizational Structure/Design/Development, Performance Measurement, Procurement and Acquisition, Risk Management, Strategic Planning

Management Matters Podcast

Grand Challenge: Make Government AI Ready

Improving End-User Outcomes through Artificial Intelligence with Tim Persons

Season: 1 Episode:81 | November 22, 2021

Show Notes:

On this episode, we welcome Tim Persons, Chief Scientist and Managing Director at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and Academy Fellow, to discuss recruiting the next generation of the AI workforce, oversight and accountability frameworks for AI, and how public administrators can adapt to a rapidly changing technologic environment.