A recap of our Excellence in Government Fellows 35th Anniversary Alumni Event  
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A recap of our Excellence in Government Fellows 35th Anniversary Alumni Event  

Date
October 22, 2024 | Updated on October 24, 2024
Authors
Cheyenne London

Federal leaders who attended the Partnership for Public Service’s Excellence in Government Fellows 35th Anniversary Alumni Event explored how to responsibly use artificial intelligence to best serve the public—a top-of-mind topic for many in government today.  

The Excellence in Government Fellows Program is the premier leadership development course for federal employees at the GS-14 to GS-15 levels. Composed of six multiday sessions spread across the year, it is composed of coursework, coaching, mentoring and networking opportunities, and a results project that seeks to tackle challenges in government.    

Lauren Anstey, vice president of the Partnership’s Public Service Leadership Institute®, moderated a panel discussion with: 

  • Patricia (Patty) Cogswell, former deputy administrator at the Transportation Security Administration  
  • Reginald (Reggie) Wells, former deputy commissioner for human resources at the Social Security Administration  
  • Jennifer Ives, vice president for artificial intelligence and modernizing government at the Partnership for Public Service 

“AI technology holds the potential to transform how our federal government serves the public. However, it is crucial that federal leaders at all levels use this technology the right way to ensure a balanced approach that maximizes benefits while mitigating risks.”   

Understanding AI governance  

The panel started off with a deep dive into AI governance.  

Cogswell drove the discussion as she highlighted a use case involving biometrics in travel security. “If you can’t figure out the use case, you can’t train the people,” she said, recognizing the importance of understanding AI’s potential risks and sticking to the mission.  

Her sentiment stood out to audience member Sarah Kaczmarek, a 2023 EIG graduate and managing director of public affairs at the Government Accountability Office.  

“At the end of the day, using AI needs to remain consistent with an agency’s core values and support its mission in serving the American people,” she said.  

Skeptically curious leadership 

All the panelists advocated the need for equal parts skepticism and curiosity toward AI.  

For Ives, “skeptically curious” is a leader’s obligation to ask critical questions so AI is implemented in a responsible way while remaining open to potential growth.  

Wells offered concerns that the rapid adoption of AI could bring unintended consequences. He addressed rising anxieties about job displacement as AI works quicker and more efficiently than humans. His perspective reminded the audience that scenario planning is vital for anticipating the long-term implications of AI and reinforced a recurring theme of the event: that humans need to oversee AI systems. 

AI as a transformative force 

As the panelists’ conversation unfolded, it became clear that AI is not just a fad but a transformative force that requires attentive leadership. In the Excellence in Government Fellows Program, leaders develop skills that could help them plan for the ethical and effective use of AI.  

Michelle Sara King, a 2024 alum, shared that the program “helps leaders reflect upon what they are currently doing, strategically plan for the future and was the best training [she] has taken since law school.” 

In all, the event highlighted both the past and the future, celebrating 35 years of federal leadership training and discussing how civil servants can use their leadership skills to responsibly implement evolving AI technology to improve the way the federal government works.