Energy Names Inaugural Director of New Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office

Less than a half-year into its existence, the Energy Department's new Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office officially unveiled its leader. According to a Thursday announcement, the agency's undersecretary for science officially swore in Cheryl Ingstad as the inaugural director of AITO on Feb. 4. "AI technologies will be as transformative to our daily lives as electricity was to American society more than a century ago, and as a world-leading AI enterprise, [Energy] has the power and the obligation to ensure that it is used as a force for good," Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said in a statement. He added that Ingstad's "proven public and private sector leadership in driving crosscutting, breakthrough technologies at the nexus of energy and national security" made her the agency's "ideal candidate" for the role. According to her LinkedIn profile, Ingstad is an Army veteran and has experience in the Defense Department's cyber operations. The agency also said she was an "early leader" in the Defense Intelligence Agency's Information Operations Branch.