The General Services Administration (GSA) is celebrating the graduation of the inaugural class of U.S. Digital Corps (USDC) fellows, who have worked across the Federal government for the past two years to develop innovative technology solutions to benefit all Americans.
GSA established the U.S. Digital Corps in 2021 and welcomed its inaugural cohort of 40 early-career technologists in 2022 to advance the Federal government’s tech workforce.
Of its 2022 cohort, GSA said the USDC had a two-year retention rate of 97 percent, and 95 percent of graduates are planning to stay on in career civil service positions at 15 Federal agencies.
“What was once just an idea is now a rapidly-scaling and impactful program serving agencies government-wide,” GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said in a press release. “Together, this USDC cohort has built 21st century digital infrastructure that will enable the government to deliver more effectively for millions of Americans.”
The agency launched the two-year program in collaboration with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Personnel Management, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The fellows have contributed to a number of technology projects, working at 14 agencies across the Federal government. Some of these projects included supporting long COVID research, improving access to behavioral healthcare and support through FindSupport.gov, and implementing cybersecurity practices to help U.S. diplomats.
“Working with the U.S. Digital Corps fellows has been transformative for our projects and initiatives,” said Director of Digital Service at the Administration for Children and Families Sarah Tully. “Their enthusiasm, innovation, and commitment to excellence have made a significant impact on our mission. We are excited to welcome them as full-time team members and look forward to the continued collaboration with future cohorts of USDC fellows.”
GSA is preparing to welcome its third cohort of fellows in August. This cohort will be larger than the 2022 cohort, including 50 AI and AI-enabling fellows hired in support of the Biden administration’s AI Talent Surge.
“I want to congratulate the graduating fellows and everyone across government who made the U.S. Digital Corps such a success in its first two years,” said Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana. “Technology underpins our ability to deliver secure government services to the American people – and the USDC tech talent pipeline will help us move faster in driving the progress we know is possible.”
