The Advanced Research Projects Agency For Health (ARPA-H) has recently appointed Alastair Thomson as the agency’s new Acting Director of Data Innovation.

In his new role, Thomson will be responsible for spearheading the agency’s efforts in advancing data infrastructure to enhance AI and machine learning capabilities.

Thomson previously held numerous roles with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He served as Enterprise Architect for the last two years. 

He also holds the position of Senior Advisor for Information and Data Technologies at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under NIH.

In his role as senior advisor, Thomson is tasked with defining and constructing next-generation data infrastructure to bolster ARPA-H initiatives. His focus encompasses innovation in areas such as AI and machine learning, digital twins, and cloud-based analytics.

Thomson holds a DipGrad degree from the University of Otago in computer science and psychology.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management issued a guidebook that summarizes information for federal agencies on existing pay, leave, and workforce flexibilities available for AI  specialists and other key government technology roles.

The guidance also outlines the options and initiatives accessible to agencies for recruiting and retaining AI and related expertise, along with additional resources. These options can also be utilized by agencies for broader talent recruitment and retention efforts, extending to other critical positions within the agencies.