Timothy Persons

MEMBER SINCE: 2021

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

Chief Scientist and Managing Director

Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics

U.S. Government Accountability Office

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

Principal

Digital Assurance and Transparency

PricewaterhouseCoopers

2023

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.