AI Engineering: The National Initiative for Human-Centered, Robust and Secure, and Scalable AI

Dr. Rachel Dzombak leads digital transformation at CMU Software Engineering Institute's Emerging Technology Center. In her role, she works with organizations to realize the capability of artificial intelligence for mission outcomes. Prior to joining CMU, Dr. Dzombak was an Innovation Fellow and Professional Faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, Dr. Dzombak focused her research on processes for design, innovation, and systems thinking and developed tools for experiential education. She holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a BS in Biomedical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Matt Gaston is the Founding Director of the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Software Engineering Institute's Emerging Technology Center and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the CMU Institute for Software Research. The Emerging Technology Center applies advanced technologies in artificial intelligence, computing, and human-machine interaction to critical defense and national security missions. Before joining Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Gaston was the Director of Research for a business unit of General Dynamics C4 Systems and spent nearly 10 years at the National Security Agency developing and applying mission-focused technologies. He is a 2012 recipient of the AFCEA Award for Meritorious Service to the Intelligence Community. Dr. Gaston received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from UMBC specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame.

Frank Redner joined the SEI in 2005 and serves as a Program Development Manager, at Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) Software Engineering Institute, with a focus on the Emerging Technology Center. He is responsible for business and portfolio management, and customer relationship activities with attention to DoD and the IC.

Prior to joining the SEI, Frank retired from the USAF serving as communications and information officer in a variety of assignments to include tours at the Joint Staff, Air Staff, MAJCOM, Wing, and Squadron levels. He has commanded two communication squadrons and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Deputy J6 at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and the at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. His last assignment was as the Deputy Director for Information Assurance, Warfighting and Integration (AF/XI) Pentagon.

He holds a BS from Troy State University in computer science and an MBA from the College of William and Mary.