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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Launches First of its Kind Initiative to Hire 50 AI Experts in 2024 as part of New DHS “AI Corps”.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) Eric Hysen recently announced a significant recruitment drive, aiming to hire 50 Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology experts into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for 2024.
This initiative, dubbed the "AI Corps," is inspired by the U.S. Digital Service model. It is designed to harness AI technology across key strategic areas within the homeland security enterprise, such as countering fentanyl trafficking, fighting child sexual exploitation and abuse, enhancing immigration services, ensuring secure travel, protecting critical infrastructure, and boosting cybersecurity. The effort underscores a proactive approach to leveraging AI responsibly while upholding privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
The DHS AI Corps seeks to integrate AI and Machine Learning (ML) specialists into its workforce, enhancing the department's policy initiatives and ensuring the secure and ethical application of AI technologies. Utilizing the Office of Personnel Management's newly established flexible hiring authorities tailored for AI-related positions, DHS aims to streamline the federal hiring process. This expedited approach is intended to swiftly onboard qualified candidates, reinforcing the department's capabilities in AI/ML, data science, engineering, program and product management, software engineering, and cybersecurity, among other areas. Secretary Mayorkas emphasized the importance of this initiative in keeping pace with technological advancements, ensuring the DHS's ability to responsibly utilize AI for a wide range of critical security missions.
The DHS AI Corps will operate within the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer, participating in diverse projects across the department to advance AI innovation and application. An upcoming event in Mountain View, CA, spearheaded by Secretary Mayorkas and CIO Hysen, aims to attract tech experts to these new opportunities, showcasing how AI is currently benefiting various DHS missions. Examples include AI's role in fentanyl interdiction, combating online child sex abuse, and enhancing disaster damage assessments, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in public service. This initiative is part of a broader whole-of-government effort, aligning with President Biden's executive order on the safe and responsible development and use of AI, to ensure the United States remains at the forefront of AI innovation while addressing security, privacy, and ethical considerations.
Learn more about artificial intelligence at DHS.
To apply for the open positions visit DHS AI job posting page.