INDEPENDENT RESEARCH / PRACTICE NOTES

Ideas in motion, not ideas behind glass.¶

This is my working notebook on AI engineering, strategy, knowledge infrastructure, organizational transformation, and the human systems that determine whether innovation becomes real capability.

The notes range from emerging research questions to practical operating models. Some will become papers, tools, talks, or products. Others are here because thinking improves when it is made visible.

Evidence before theater Systems over slogans Useful, accountable AI

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Latest writing

February 7, 2024
in AI Strategy, Defense Technology, Government Technology, Innovation Management
2 min read

Introducing the Leaders of U.S. AI Safety Institute: Director and CTO Revealed Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Kelly, a White House National Economic Council adviser, as the inaugural director of the U.S. AI Safety Institute (USAISI). Kelly will provide leadership and oversight to the institute, coordinating AI policy and technical initiatives. Elham Tabassi, Chief AI Adviser at the National Institute for Standards and Technology, has been selected as the USAISI’s chief technology officer. Tabassi will shape AI research efforts and identify and mitigate AI safety risks. The appointments highlight the commitment to advancing AI safety and responsible innovation in the United States.

U.S. AI Safety Institute Announces Director and Chief Technology Officer

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has announced the appointment of National Economic Council adviser, Elizabeth Kelly, to lead the newly formed U.S. AI Safety Institute (USAISI). In addition, Elham Tabassi has been named the chief technology officer for the institute.

February 7, 2024
in Government Technology, AI Strategy, Defense Technology, Innovation Management
2 min read

Streamlining OSD IT Management: Administrative Instruction Defines DOD Component Responsibilities

DOD Outlines Roles & Responsibilities of Several Components for OSD IT, Information Management Support

The Office of the Performance Improvement Officer (PIO) at the Department of Defense (DOD) has published a document detailing the roles and responsibilities of multiple DOD components. The focus lies in providing information management and information technology support for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). The original article can be found here .

February 6, 2024
in AI Strategy, Defense Technology, Government Technology, Innovation Management
1 min read

International Defense Cooperation: Demonstrating the Potential of Uncrewed Robotic Vehicles in Joint Trial

Introduction

The Department of Defense (DoD) recently collaborated with its counterparts from the United Kingdom and Australia to conduct field trials of various robotic vehicles and sensors. The trials took place in late 2023 at the Cultana Training Area in South Australia and are a testament to global cooperation in advancing defense technology.

February 6, 2024
in AI Strategy, Defense Technology, Government Technology, Innovation Management
2 min read

Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service Goes Live on Government Cloud Platform Microsoft has launched its Azure OpenAI Service on the Azure Government platform, giving federal agencies access to AI tools in a more regulated environment. Candice Ling, senior vice president of Microsoft’s federal government business, highlighted the data safety measures of the service and its potential for productivity and innovation. The company is also seeking federal cloud services authorizations, including FedRAMP’s “high” baseline and the Department of Defense’s Impact Levels 4 and 5, to allow the use of higher-impact data with the system. Governments agencies are increasingly experimenting with AI technologies and crafting their own policies for the use of generative AI tools.

Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service Goes Live on Government Cloud Platform

A defining move in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to government services, Microsoft has launched its Azure OpenAI service on the Azure Government platform. This launch comes as the company is seeking FedRAMP authorization for handling high-impact data.

February 6, 2024
in AI Strategy, Defense Technology, Government Technology, Innovation Management
7 min read

A Successful AI Pilot Is Not Yet a Durable Institution

Revised and substantially expanded July 17, 2026, including the subsequent legislative and program record.

In February 2024, lawmakers supporting the Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence Act—the CREATE AI Act—were optimistic that Congress would formally establish the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR). At the same time, the National Science Foundation had already launched a pilot under executive direction and existing authorities.

That combination created an easy but misleading story: the pilot was underway, bipartisan support was growing, and legislation would simply make the program permanent.

The harder institutional question is what permanent should mean.

A pilot can demonstrate demand, test operating processes, and mobilize voluntary contributions. It cannot by itself guarantee multi-year infrastructure, stable access for long-running research, independent governance, predictable appropriations, enforceable duties, or continuity across administrations. Those are not administrative details surrounding a technical program. They determine what kind of national capability the program becomes.

NAIRR needs legislation not merely so that it continues to exist, but so that its public obligations survive the incentives and relationships that made the pilot possible.

February 6, 2024
in AI Strategy, Defense Technology, Government Technology, Innovation Management
2 min read

Navigating Emerging Threats: The Role of Modern Security Operations Centers With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity practitioners and their security operations centers (SOCs) need to be prepared to tackle evolving threats. Continuous training and certifications are crucial for SOC staff to stay ahead of the sophisticated tactics employed by malicious actors. AI has elevated the capabilities of hackers in cyberthreats such as identity theft and spear phishing attacks. SOC staff must adapt by relying on cyber threat intelligence (CTI) to explore the dark web for hacker discussions and by encouraging user reports of suspicious emails. Additionally, a comprehensive SOC should prioritize communication, vulnerability analysis, and the understanding of modernization efforts and secure software design. By incorporating a blend of human intelligence and technical detection, modern SOCs can effectively combat emerging threats and ensure the security of critical systems and networks.

Navigating Emerging Threats: The Role of Modern Security Operations Centers

As federal agencies increasingly rely on outsourcing their security operations center (SOC) staff, they must ensure the appointed personnel possess not only the required certifications but also the most current knowledge in the field.

February 6, 2024
in Government Technology, AI Strategy, Defense Technology, Innovation Management
2 min read

Navigating the Virtual Battlespace: Cautionary Advice from Cyber Veterans

The Digital Ecosystem: A Competitive Battleground Equivalent to the Physical Domain

In the last two decades, and more prominently over the past five years, the digital ecosystem has morphed into a competitive battlespace arguably on par with the physical domain. The near-universal presence of internet connectivity, linking approximately 17 billion devices to the internet as of this year, creates enormous opportunities and challenges. The original article can be found here .

February 5, 2024
in AI Strategy, Defense Technology, Government Technology, Innovation Management
2 min read

Developing Trustworthy AI Standards: ITI Provides Recommendations for NIST The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) has released its proposed recommendations for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on the development of trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) standards. ITI emphasizes the importance of collaboration with international counterparts to formulate a risk management framework for generative AI systems, fostering global alignment and transparency. The council also highlights the need for proportionate evaluation and auditing guidelines to strike a balance between effective risk management and innovation. With robust standards in place, the responsible and secure use of AI can be ensured as we enter the era of AI technology.

NIST Encouraged to Develop AI Standards Based on ITI Recommendations

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) has made public its proposed recommendations for the implementation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of its responsibilities in encouraging secure and trustworthy usage and development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.