Eric Hysen

Leading efforts to simplify operations, accelerate innovation, and responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into the company’s global legal and corporate functions.

Concluded a year-long non-residential fellowship convening leaders across sectors to engage with the university community on the future of technology, AI, and digital governance. Published "Best Practices in Public-Sector AI Governance: A Practitioner's Playbook," drawing on a review of 66 U.S. public-sector AI governance policies, ten in-depth interviews with federal, state, local, and international leaders, and four years inside the third-largest federal agency. The paper organizes lessons into a five-stage playbook—policy development, leadership and resourcing, intake and inventory, risk assessment, and publication.

Chief Information Officer, 2021 to 2025

Appointed by President Biden as Chief Information Officer to lead efforts to modernize and secure DHS’s use of information technology in support of its missions. Oversaw $10B in annual IT spend across DHS and lead a DHS IT workforce of over 10,000 employees and contractors.

Chief AI Officer, 2023 to 2025

In September 2023, named by Secretary Mayorkas to concurrently serve the Department’s first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. Developed the Department’s AI Roadmap and launched its first three pilots in Generative AI. Created the DHS AI Corps to recruit AI talent. Created and implemented comprehensive policies for responsible and trustworthy AI use.

Deputy Under Secretary for Management (Acting), 2021 to 2023

Led initiatives to transform the DHS organization including improving employee morale, restructuring the budget, and modernizing hiring, training, and personnel security practices. Oversaw finance, human capital, procurement, readiness support, security, program accountability, biometrics, and the Federal Protective Service.

Led development of technology delivery action plans for top policy priorities.

Developed roadmap to rebuild the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program through concrete recommendations for innovations in policy, personnel, process, and systems to reinvigorate U.S. humanitarian diplomacy, maintain the rigorous vetting of refugees, and securely increase refugee admissions multifold. Scoped and launched policy implementation projects in areas including the social safety net and election security. Contributed to the design of an executive education program to prepare experienced technology leaders for public service.

Led strategy, prioritization, and project scoping for a new office created by Governor Newsom to improve services for the people of California through a human-centered approach to design and technology. Managed response to technology and operational issues with unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Helped build the Justice & Opportunity Initiative, spanning Criminal Justice Reform, Immigration, Economic Opportunity, and Housing Affordability. Led the development of immigration reform strategy. Developed and executed strategy for using tech and data to improve social service delivery, integrating technical exploration, human-centered design, and grantmaking.

Created a new office of 35 software engineers, product managers, designers and process engineers charged with tackling critical challenges from the President and Secretary of Homeland Security through technology, data, and design. Led efforts to modernize refugee admissions, immigration benefits processing, the import/export system, and technology procurement.

One of the first ten members of a new team inside the White House using design and technology to deliver better services to the American people. Product Manager for efforts to modernize the American immigration system.

Led product development to drive voter participation and civic engagement through Google’s products and open data. Launched voting information in Google Search used over 23 Million times to find polling places in the 2012 US election, along with Civic Information API, live election results map, and voter registration guide.