Washington AI Network with Tammy Haddad
Jan 16, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min · 13 segments
What does it take to modernize government for the pace of AI? In this episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast, host Tammy Haddad speaks with Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel…
Scott KuporGuest
Tammy HaddadHost
Justin FanelliGuestArun GuptaGuestChristopher WatkinsGuest
So a little later, we're going to talk to Scott Cooper, who started US Tech Force.
What is your take on that? Is that going to help you build capability? How are you looking at it?
faster? Yes.
So this is a knowledge work game, right? Something interesting here is if you're doing manual labor, you might get incrementally or linearly like a little bit faster.
So we had kind of version zero of TechForce in 2012. in the Noble Reach cohort that we've been hosting for the last year.
And we have 23-year-olds who are just moving, they're running laps because they understand AI.
They are in a hands-on role within the government with problems that are so big and hard that they're stimulated.
Um, one of them, uh, I was walking back, uh, from a meeting with a three-star, we have a 23 year old, uh, meeting with a three-star because he's so savvy.
And he said, um, uh, when I started, uh, uh, I was playing with a Rubik's cube and you told me, uh, uh, I'm glad you did that.
And he said, they are so much bigger and more satisfying than I could have imagined.
If we can get more people like that in this cause right now, it's an exponential impact.
And Chris, that's my point about serving, being in public service, right? Where you have the opportunity to make a difference.
I mean, there's many ways to make a difference, but make a difference for the public good, right? So TechForce and the Noble Reach Foundation are saying to young people, like many in the room, hey, why don't you come into government first? And TechForce is pulling that all together.
And I would say start even earlier, right? Go into the elementary schools, the middle schools, STEM education, but bring specific AI type modules in there.
So I think the earlier you get to people and you kind of give them an understanding what the future is going to look like and how they could apply their knowledge and their skills in the public good, I think it's a very powerful combination.
So a little later, we're going to talk to Scott Cooper, who started US Tech Force.
What is your take on that? Is that going to help you build capability? How are you looking at it?
faster? Yes.
So this is a knowledge work game, right? Something interesting here is if you're doing manual labor, you might get incrementally or linearly like a little bit faster.
So we had kind of version zero of TechForce in 2012. in the Noble Reach cohort that we've been hosting for the last year.
And we have 23-year-olds who are just moving, they're running laps because they understand AI.
They are in a hands-on role within the government with problems that are so big and hard that they're stimulated.
Um, one of them, uh, I was walking back, uh, from a meeting with a three-star, we have a 23 year old, uh, meeting with a three-star because he's so savvy.
And he said, um, uh, when I started, uh, uh, I was playing with a Rubik's cube and you told me, uh, uh, I'm glad you did that.
And he said, they are so much bigger and more satisfying than I could have imagined.
If we can get more people like that in this cause right now, it's an exponential impact.
And Chris, that's my point about serving, being in public service, right? Where you have the opportunity to make a difference.
I mean, there's many ways to make a difference, but make a difference for the public good, right? So TechForce and the Noble Reach Foundation are saying to young people, like many in the room, hey, why don't you come into government first? And TechForce is pulling that all together.
And I would say start even earlier, right? Go into the elementary schools, the middle schools, STEM education, but bring specific AI type modules in there.
So I think the earlier you get to people and you kind of give them an understanding what the future is going to look like and how they could apply their knowledge and their skills in the public good, I think it's a very powerful combination.
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