Melvin Greer, the chief data scientist at Intel Corporation, was named “Artificial Intelligence Executive of the Year” at the Washington Exec Pinnacle Awards on Nov. 5. The award honors influencers in government contracting.

In Feb. 2012, Greer received the Black Engineer -Technologist of the Year Award, which recognized his outstanding technical contributions to cloud computing and service-oriented architecture.

Greer is the inventor of Thundercloud, an app used for providing a faster route to the Cloud and first responders for incident respondents. His research in agile software, cloud computing and business analytic resulted in new global standards, tools, and technical methods.

Below are excerpts from an interview USBE had with Mr. Greer recently.

USBE: What do you do as a chief data scientist at Intel?

MG: The responsibilities of my current job are:

• Build Intel’s data science platform through artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cognitive computing to accelerate the transformation of data into a strategic asset for public sector and commercial enterprises.
• Build a diverse workforce and talent pipeline of underserved communities.
• Serve as a role model and mentor for future leaders and up and coming technical talent.

USBE: What kind of education and training you have?

MG: I received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Technology, and a Master of Science in Information Systems from American University in Washington D.C. I also completed the Executive Leadership Program at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, and the Entrepreneurial Finance Post Graduate Program at the business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

USBE: Why did you decide to enter this field?

MG: I’ve always had a curiosity about science and how things work. Now, I have a strong desire to influence the advancement of science and research.

USBE: What’s next?

MG: I’m writing two new books on artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) security, my sixth and seventh books.

USBE: Which professional organizations do you belong to?

MG: I’m a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and U.S. National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR); and a member of the International Monetary Fund/World Bank, Bretton Woods Committee, where I explore how the deployment of enabling technologies relates to private sector development, commercial opportunities, global financial stability, and social responsibility.

I also serve on the Board of Trustees for Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Maryland and on the Board of Directors for the Northern Virginia Children’s Science Center. I’m a Fellow at the National Cybersecurity Institute, Washington, D.C.

USBE: What’s your best advice for students?

MG: Get a mentor, develop a personal brand, develop a career, plan, and be flexible.