In a landmark move, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on June 25 the hiring of the first 10 members of its newly established “AI Corps,” a strategic initiative to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into the homeland security enterprise. This announcement, made by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Chief AI Officer Eric Hysen on June 25, 2024, marks the beginning of a broader effort to recruit 50 AI technology experts to the department.
The AI Corps will play a crucial role in leveraging AI to enhance various mission areas, including countering fentanyl trafficking, combating online child sexual exploitation, improving immigration services, fortifying critical infrastructure, and boosting cybersecurity. The inaugural members of the AI Corps come from diverse professional backgrounds, including AI and machine learning, data science, data engineering, program and product management, software engineering, and cybersecurity.
Secretary Mayorkas emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, “Our Department is at the forefront of the federal government in harnessing AI’s potential to achieve the mission. To advance our leadership, we have been recruiting AI talent from around the country, drawing skilled professionals to public service. We are excited to onboard our first group of AI experts to begin the work of our new AI Corps. I look forward to growing our AI Corps in the months ahead, as we continue to introduce the safe and responsible use of AI across the broad range of missions we perform.”
The AI Corps members include notable experts such as Sadaf Asrar, who previously worked as an AI Technology expert at the National Center for Education Statistics and as Director of Data Science at Optimal Solutions. Zach Fasnacht brings experience from PricewaterhouseCoopers and Allstate Insurance, while Pramod Gadde, a founder of healthcare-related startups, has specialized in using conversational AI to improve mental healthcare. Other members like Sean Harvey from Google, Jenny Kim from McKinsey & Company, and Babatunde Oguntade from CACI International, bring a wealth of knowledge in AI, machine learning, and data science.
Leading the AI Corps is Michael Boyce, appointed as its first Director. Boyce has an extensive background in AI policy and innovation, having contributed to the President’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. “I’m honored to join and lead this team alongside such talented individuals; the first of several additions to what will become the largest and most dynamic civilian AI team in the federal government,” said Boyce. “AI is the most important technology of our time and it is going to change how we do our critical work to serve the American people.”
The DHS AI Corps initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize and enhance national security through advanced technologies. In April 2023, DHS established its first AI Task Force to address mission-critical areas such as supply chain integrity, cargo screening, and criminal network disruption. By March 2024, the department introduced its “Artificial Intelligence Roadmap,” outlining plans to advance homeland security missions responsibly and promote nationwide AI safety.
These efforts align with President Biden’s Executive Order on AI, which established a National AI Talent Surge to rapidly hire experts to build and govern AI. The Executive Order directs DHS to promote AI safety standards, protect critical infrastructure, and reduce risks associated with AI technologies.
Chief AI Officer Eric Hysen highlighted the transformative potential of the AI Corps, saying, “The new talent joining DHS will help empower our workforce to quickly leverage AI technology in their efforts to safeguard our nation. The range of professional and academic experiences these new hires bring to the federal government, some for the first time, will go a long way in our efforts to modernize our services.”
