Chris Kraft, Deputy CTO, AI/Emerging Technology at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), speaks with Adita Karkera, Chief Data Officer, Government and Public Services at Deloitte, in a video interview about his professional trajectory, perspective on the public versus private sector, and how his role fits in the broader operational model for the department.

The DHS is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries.

Kraft began his career in the private sector and consulting, focusing on helping organizations implement large-scale systems, especially financial systems. Over time, he transitioned to working with clients, which included XM Satellite Radio and Sirius, where he served as the VP for corporate solutions. During the merger of Sirius and XM, which then became Sirius XM, Kraft played a vital role in integrating their systems.

Adding on, Kraft states that he never envisioned a career in government. However, while at Sirius XM, he attended law school, which sparked his interests beyond the work that he was doing.

Eventually, Kraft pivoted to the federal government, starting at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he helped modernize its systems. Early in his federal career, he tapped into the immense opportunities of using technology to improve efficiency, save time, and enable people to focus on higher-value tasks.

Prior to his current role, Kraft worked at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he oversaw financial systems and spearheaded the development of a generative AI (GenAI) solution called FEMA OCFO GPT.

Elaborating on the tool, Kraft says that it was designed to address budget-related inquiries, and it leveraged budget data to produce draft responses that could be refined externally. This experience deepened his interest in the transformative potential of GenAI and the organizational value it brings.

FEMA OCFO GPT became the first GenAI solution within the Department of Homeland Security that has been in production since early this year, says Kraft. In March 2024, he transitioned to his current role as the Deputy CTO for AI and Emerging Technology at the DHS headquarters.

DHS, says Kraft, has 22 organizations and 8 operational components with a diverse mission set. In this role, he has been involved in numerous innovative projects, exploring how to utilize GenAI across the department.

Sharing his perspective on the private vs. public sector, Kraft states that it was easier to be more adaptive in the private sector. He believes that a part of it was because the technology decisions they made did not have a wide-ranging impact.

On the contrary, while working in an organization like DHS or FEMA, making decisions on approaches to implementing technology can have a significant impact on the general public. The reason he chose the public sector over the private sector was to be a part of the mission and support teams in doing things that are critical for the government while leveraging technology responsibly.

Shedding light on how his role fits in the larger operational model, he states that at DHS headquarters, the CTO function collaborates with Chief AI Officers and leads AI across the department. This is critical to note because AI functions reside at different places across organizations.

Delving further, Kraft mentions that the CTO organization has three divisions. The first is the newly established group DHS AI Core, which has already onboarded 25 AI experts. This successful hiring reflects the solid collaboration between DHS’s HR, IT, and other involved teams.

Modeled after the U.S. Digital Service, the AI Core assembles a highly skilled team of AI experts who work on high-priority, cross-functional projects across the department, components, and headquarters level.

Next, Kraft mentions the AI governance and engineering division that focuses on establishing AI governance frameworks across the department. This includes managing use case inventories and complying with OMB guidance under M-24-10 and safety and rights-impacting requirements for use case inventory and other activities.

The third division that Kraft sheds light on is emerging technology and says that although much of it is AI, the idea is to look ahead for what comes next. Whether it’s quantum or a new AI application, having a dedicated group helps to stay at the forefront of technologies, he concludes.

CDO Magazine appreciates Chris Kraft for sharing his insights with our global community.