DISA Chief Technology Officer discusses automation and AI advancements at Artificial Intelligence Summit

By Office of Strategic Communication and Public Affairs

Potomac Officers Club 's 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit served as a platform for Defense Information Systems Agency Chief Technology Officer Steve Wallace to shed light on the agency's strides in operationalizing artificial intelligence and automation. The event, held on March 21, brought together key stakeholders to explore the integration of AI into government operations.

Wallace first highlighted DISA's longstanding commitment to automation, particularly in the financial domain. He emphasized how the agency has significantly increased efficiency by implementing robotic process automation in financial operations.

"We've had a lot of work going on in that space for some time ... About five years ago, we went headlong into the use of robotic process automation, or RPA, and we were able to cut out hundreds upon thousands of person hours of work," he said.

One notable success story Wallace shared was the transformation of monthly contract reconciliation processes, where DISA reduced a 10-minute task per item to a mere 30 seconds, significantly enhancing accuracy and efficiency.

He underscored the application of AI in cybersecurity, highlighting its role in threat intelligence analysis and decision-making processes.

"When we concentrate on the cyber side of things and we're learning attack, but also from the perspective of social engineering attacks ... it's not just the uber sexy back-end ones and zeros, it's also the social side of how we are going to adapt our workforces to this challenge," he said.

Wallace emphasized the need for collaboration with industry partners to maximize the potential of AI in cybersecurity defense.

"Within the next few weeks, you will see an RFI come out ... asking industry for help and input as to how we can better leverage AI with respect to cyber defense," he said.

In addition to AI's role in automation and cybersecurity, Wallace touched upon its significance in preserving institutional knowledge amid workforce turnover. He highlighted the use of large language models to curate and retain corporate knowledge effectively. Furthermore, he discussed DISA's efforts to leverage AI in talent acquisition processes, aiming to streamline resume screening and enhance candidate selection.

Wallace acknowledged AI's transformative potential while advocating for a cautious and informed approach. He emphasized the importance of learning from past pitfalls and challenges.

"AI will revolutionize humanity, but like in anything, you don't go blindly running into it, you run toward it being aware, and hopefully aware of some of the pitfalls and challenges," he said.

Addressing concerns regarding AI's security and ethical implications, he stressed the importance of building robust guardrails around AI models to prevent manipulation and ensure data integrity.

Wallace's insights underscored DISA's commitment to harnessing AI and automation to enhance operational efficiency, cybersecurity resilience and talent management. The agency's proactive approach toward leveraging AI reflects its dedication to advancing technological innovation in government operations.

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