Our inaugural cohort of 19 NobleReach Scholars are headed to their placements at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), U.S. Navy and U.S. Space Force.
Additional participants include Thermaquil, Anduril and Ozark, three industry partners at the forefront of public sector innovation.
These recent graduates in business, engineering, data science and more will start positions in AI, biotech, cyber, business process innovation and materials and manufacturing after completing a three-week orientation bootcamp, where they:
Dove into topics ranging from the federal procurement process to the CHIPS Act to human-centered design,
Learned to apply the Lean Startup methodology to government’s most pressing challenges,
Heard from leaders including the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the 66th U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, CISA Director Jen Easterly, the 1st U.S. Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra, White House Special Advisor for AI Ben Buchanan and more.
Each scholar was selected from among hundreds of candidates across over 90 universities nationwide.
The application for our 2025 cohort opens on September 30. If you’re interested in applying to become a scholar, register here.
I would challenge you at every point in your careers to ask yourself: what impact am I delivering?
Sec. Raimondo shared her journey to public service, her thoughts on the race for semiconductors and how to encourage the private sector to think in the long term.
Bootcamp speakers shared their stories, their advice and their thoughts on challenges facing the federal government, from the global AI race to the war in Ukraine.
Five Takeaways
Government has plenty of technologists, but not enough translators. When he transitioned to government after a career in Silicon Valley, U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel Fick was pleasantly surprised to find deep technology talent in government. What was really missing, he said, was fluency in the language of the private sector.
To navigate today’s digital landscape, as a nation, we need people in government with commercial sensibility to help forge sustainable private-public partnerships that benefit the public good and make commercial sense at the same time.
Ambassador Nathaniel Fick
People don’t trust institutions – they trust people.
Director Easterly encouraged the scholars to hone their imaginations as force multipliers for everything they do during their time in government.
2. The United States is leading on AI – but first doesn’t always mean strongest, said Luke Murry, former National Security Advisor to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Marvel Technologies head of government affairs.
It doesn’t matter who’s first to technology. It matters who understands the applications of AI and can efficiently integrate it into existing systems. Getting the right people in government will determine whether the U.S. can stay ahead of China on AI.
Luke Murry
Never forget that you’re contributing to a broader mission – whether you’re taking notes in a meeting or helping set our national AI policy – that transcends any individual activity
White House Special Advisor for AI Ben Buchanan during the scholars’ visit to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
3. Military readiness will look fundamentally different post-Ukraine. The defense innovations that have proved most successful in Ukraine nimbly adapt off-the-shelf technologies to practical applications from the battlefield, said Matt Pottinger, Former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor.
The Pentagon isn’t used to being downstream of innovation. Especially in the context of the war in Ukraine, experience supporting our national security interests in both government and the private sector is a value add and a differentiator because it allows you to learn both languages.
Matt Pottinger
4. Public service is bipartisan. Throughout the bootcamp, the scholars connected with cabinet members, generals, academics, business leaders – Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between – all united in their commitment to public service.
Every single speaker who met with the scholars and saw firsthand their energy and enthusiasm for mission-driven work said, how can I help?
NobleReach CEO Arun Gupta
This experience has been incredible. Each cohort member, speaker and member of NobleReach has inspired me through their personal stories and their passion for service. I’ve learned so much these three weeks that I know I will carry with me as I go throughout my career.
Scholar Grayson Lawrence (left)
5. Public service is cool. Don’t underestimate the role early-career talent can play in policy from the bottom up, said former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl.
If you can write and argue well and in good faith, if you put in the work, you have an opportunity to be a translator across industry and government and help ensure innovation happens safely and sustainably.
Dr. Colin Kahl
Be an extra pair of hands. Wherever you go, be someone who steps up and gets the work done.
Sec. Rice during a remote session with the scholars
Looking forward, my career mission is to improve others’ quality of life with my technical background.
Scholar Patrick Dunnington (right) joined his peers in toasting successfully completing the bootcamp at a celebration during the final week.
What truly made this experience unforgettable was the camaraderie I shared with my fellow cohort members. From the moment we met, a genuine bond formed among us, making it feel as though we had known each other for years, despite our diverse backgrounds. We found joy not only in our collective growth but also in the laughter and fun we had along the way.”
Scholar Jessica Nunez (left)
Coming next: The scholars will reunite in Washington, D.C. in November to reflect on their first few months, share ideas, renew friendships forged during the bootcamp and recommit to their public service journeys.
Subscribe now for the latest on the Scholars Program and NobleReach’s work to strengthen the security and prosperity of our nation through talent and innovation.
The NobleReach Scholars represent 15 universities, including Arizona State University, Boston College, Carnegie Mellon University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Stanford University, Tufts University, University of Maryland, University of Oxford (UK), University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas-Austin, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Never forget that you’re contributing to a broader mission – whether you’re taking notes in a meeting or helping set our national AI policy – that transcends any individual activity
This experience has been incredible. Each cohort member, speaker and member of NobleReach has inspired me through their personal stories and their passion for service. I’ve learned so much these three weeks that I know I will carry with me as I go throughout my career.
Looking forward, my career mission is to improve others’ quality of life with my technical background.
What truly made this experience unforgettable was the camaraderie I shared with my fellow cohort members. From the moment we met, a genuine bond formed among us, making it feel as though we had known each other for years, despite our diverse backgrounds. We found joy not only in our collective growth but also in the laughter and fun we had along the way.”