CSET Events

Blueprints for Action on AI: The NSCAI’s Final Recommendations

CSET partnered with the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence to discuss the findings and recommendations of the commissions final report, released in early March.

In 2018, recognizing artificial intelligence’s implications for U.S. and global security, Congress established the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI). The commission was directed to make recommendations to the President and Congress to “advance the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and associated technologies to comprehensively address the national security and defense needs of the United States.” 

This March, NSCAI published its final report, which focused on four pillars for immediate action — leadership, talent, hardware, and innovation — and two broad themes that cut across these pillars: partnerships and the responsible development and use of AI. On April 14, NSCAI Executive Director Yll Bajraktari provided an overview of the final report’s recommendations and Jason Brown hosted CSET and outside experts for a discussion on bolstering the U.S. AI workforce.

Recording and Discussion

Participants

Yll Bajraktari is the Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI). He previously served as a Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow at the National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies on temporary assignment from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Prior to joining NDU, Mr. Bajraktari was the Chief of Staff to the National Security Advisor, LTG H.R. McMaster. Before his White House position, Mr. Bajraktari served for three years in a variety of leadership roles for Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, was the Special Assistant to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff GEN Martin Dempsey, the Department of Defense Country Director for India, and the DOD Country Director for Afghanistan. Prior to serving in government, Mr. Bajraktari worked on conflict and post-conflict issues at the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Institute for Defense Analyses. Born and raised in Kosovo, Mr. Bajraktari holds a B.A. degree in International Relations from the George Washington University and a M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard University.

Diana Gehlhaus (Carew) is a Research Fellow at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). Prior to CSET, she was a doctoral fellow at the RAND Corporation, receiving her PhD in Policy Analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Diana’s research focuses on the intersection of tech and talent, including domestic talent pipelines in AI and other emerging technologies; workforce development and education policy; youth career and educational decision making; trends in employer hiring, recruiting, and retention; military and federal civilian talent management; and technology and telecommunications policy. Prior to RAND she was an economist and director of the Young American Prosperity Project at the Progressive Policy Institute, a policy analyst at the U.S. Export-Import Bank and an Economist for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. She has an M.A. in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in mathematics and economics from Bucknell University. Diana’s media appearances include CNBC, Comcast Newsmakers, Wisconsin Public Radio, Nevada Public Radio and the Richard Fowler Show. Her research and commentary have been featured in The Hill, USA Today, Fortune, Washington Post and the Harvard Business Review blog, among other outlets. 

Justin Lynch is a Director of Research and Analysis at the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Prior to NSCAI, he was committee staff at the House Armed Services Committee and served in the Army. Justin’s research focuses on AI workforce, particularly how to train and educate the government’s leader, build a government technical workforce, and expand and improve the United States’ talent pool.

Stephanie Grosser currently serves as a team lead for the SME-QA hiring reform initiative at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Her team is dedicated to improving competitive hiring practices to ensure only qualified applicants make it through merit-based hiring actions. Stephanie joined the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) at OMB in 2015 and subsequently OMB’s Office of Personnel and Performance Management. In addition to her work on hiring reform, at USDS, Stephanie has delivered improved digital products across several large departments including the State Department, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to joining OMB, Stephanie worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2010-2015, first as a Presidential Management Fellow and then as Senior Advisor for Technology, Data, and Communications. While at USAID, Stephanie served a 6- month detail to OMB’s Office of the Federal CIO to launch the federal Open Data Policy. Before joining the U.S. Government, Stephanie spent 5 years at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) as an advocate and lobbyist for comprehensive immigration reform. She received her Bachelors in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and her Masters in Government from Johns Hopkins University. 

Jason M. Brown is a Strategic Cloud Advisor at Google, where he supports public sector organizations navigate through their digital transformation. Jason previously spent 26 years in the United States Air Force as an intelligence officer. During his Air Force career, he led large operational units, helped establish several innovation organizations, and created unique partnerships with emerging technology companies and the venture capital community.  He also founded the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator at MIT and led the humanitarian assistance/disaster relief initiative for the Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center.