Dorothy Aronson, the National Science Foundation’s current chief data officer (CDO) and former chief information officer (CIO), will also serve as the agency’s chief AI officer (CAIO), an NSF spokesperson confirmed to MeriTalk today.
The announcement of Aronson’s new role comes weeks after the Biden administration’s AI executive order – as well as the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) draft AI guidance – calls on Federal agencies to quickly designate an official to oversee the emerging technology.
“In compliance with the issued executive order (EO 14110), we are pleased to confirm that Chief Data Officer Dorothy Aronson will also serve as NSF’s Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer,” an NSF spokesperson said in an emailed statement to MeriTalk on Nov. 24
“In this pivotal role, she will be responsible for spearheading strategic initiatives, overseeing AI implementations, and driving innovation to meet the agency’s objectives in alignment with the executive order,” the spokesperson continued. “Her extensive expertise will undoubtedly contribute to advancing the agency’s capabilities in the realm of artificial intelligence.”
OMB’s 26-page draft policy – which the agency is seeking public comments on through Dec. 5 – calls for the head of all agencies to designate a CAIO. It notes that “agencies may choose to designate an existing official, such as a Chief Technology Officer, Chief Data Officer, or similar official with relevant or complementary authorities and responsibilities, provided they have significant expertise in AI.”
According to the guidance, the CAIO would have the responsibility to advise agency leadership on AI, coordinate and track the agency’s AI activities, advance the use of AI in the agency’s mission, and oversee the management of AI risks.
OMB’s document spells out more than a dozen explicit responsibilities of the CAIOs at each agency. Specifically, the AI lead would be responsible for actions like advising on the resourcing requirements and workforce skillsets necessary for applying AI to the agency’s mission and advocating within their agency and to the public on the opportunities and benefits of AI.
The appointment of Aronson to the new CAIO role comes as NSF is still finalizing the reporting structure and relationship between the technology roles at the agency.
Earlier this year, NSF announced it is modifying the role of its CIO and is looking to establish a new office – the Office of Business Information Technology Services – that will be led by an individual who will serve as both the CIO and chief technology officer.
The NSF confirmed in February that Aronson, who had served as the agency’s permanent CIO since December of 2017, will no longer hold the title of CIO, but will remain a principal advisor to the agency’s director and other senior management on all information technology matters.
In an exclusive interview with MeriTalk, published in June, Aronson said of her changing technology roles, “What’s happening at NSF is there’s an organizational change underway, and I expect to move over to being focused on data. The agency is growing as a result of the CHIPS and Science Act, and that is a very healthy and exciting change that’s coming to really beef up in both of those areas.”
