Michael Kratsios Explained

Michael Kratsios
Office:4th Chief Technology Officer of the United States
President:Donald Trump
Term Start:August 2, 2019
Term End:January 20, 2021
Predecessor:Megan Smith
Successor:Alexander Macgillivray (acting)
Office1:Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
President1:Donald Trump
Term Start1:July 10, 2020
Term End1:January 20, 2021
Predecessor1:Michael D. Griffin
Successor1:Terry Emmert (acting)
Birth Name:Michael John Kotsakas Kratsios
Birth Date:7 November 1986
Birth Place:Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Party:Republican
Education:Princeton University (BA)
Status1:Acting

Michael John Kotsakas Kratsios (born November 7, 1986)[1] is an American business executive and government official. He served as the fourth Chief Technology Officer of the United States at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In this role, Kratsios served as President Donald Trump's top technology advisor.[2] From July 10, 2020 to January 20, 2021, Kratsios was also the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

Education

Kratsios' family is from Volissos, Chios, and the city of Kastoria, both in Greece.[3] He graduated from Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2004.[4] He then studied at Princeton University and graduated with a B.A. in politics and a certificate in Hellenic studies in 2008.[5] [6] [7] [8] Kratsios completed a 125-page long senior thesis, titled "Economics and Voting in the Third Hellenic Republic: An Aggregate and Individual-Level Analysis of the Greek Electorate, 1985-2007," under the supervision of Markus Prior.[9] He was a visiting scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing.[10]

Career

While in college, Kratsios was an intern for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and editor-in-chief and president of Business Today.[2] [11] Following his time at Princeton, he worked for Barclays Capital and Lyford Group International, and later served as the chief financial officer of Clarium Capital Management.[12] [13]

Prior to joining the Trump administration as deputy assistant to the president, Kratsios was a principal at Thiel Capital and served as chief of staff to entrepreneur and venture capitalist Peter Thiel.[5] [14] [15]

White House

Kratsios joined the White House in 2017 as Deputy Assistant to the President for Technology Policy. In March 2019, the White House announced that President Trump would nominate Kratsios as the next U.S. CTO and an associate director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.[16] On August 1, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to confirm him as the fourth U.S. CTO.[17]

At the White House, Kratsios advocated for the promotion of emerging technologies in the United States.[18] Under his leadership, the White House hosted the American Leadership in Emerging Technology Summit during the Administration's Technology Week in June 2017, kicking off a multi-year effort to prioritize domains in which the United States must ensure technological preeminence to maintain a strong economy and safeguard national security.[19] [20] [21]

Kratsios led administration efforts on artificial intelligence and quantum information science. Kratsios is the architect of the American AI Initiative, the national strategy for promoting American leadership in AI.[22] [23] He also oversaw the implementation of the bipartisan National Quantum Initiative Act, including the establishment of a new National Quantum Coordination Office in the White House.[24] In August 2020, Kratsios announced a billion dollar investment in research institutes to advance AI and quantum R&D in the United States.[25] Kratsios was responsible for developing a first-of-its-kind set set of regulatory principles to govern AI development in the private sector.[26] In January 2020, Kratsios announced the establishment of the National AI Initiative Office at the White House.[27] He also led the White House effort to integrate drones into the national airspace system, resulting in a presidential memorandum signed October 25, 2017, that called for the establishment of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program.[28] [29] [30] [31]

In March 2020, Kratsios launched the COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium, the largest public-private computing partnership ever created, to match researchers with the world’s most powerful computing resources, accelerating the pace of scientific discovery in the fight against the virus.[32] [33]

Kratsios has represented the United States as Head of Delegation at a number of international fora, including G7 Technology Ministerials in Turin, Montreal, and Paris,[34] [35] [36] and G20 Digital Economic Ministerials in Salta, Argentina and Tsukuba, Japan.[37] [38] He worked with U.S. allies, including in the G7, to counter China in AI policy,[39] and during his tenure, the U.S. joined the Global Partnership on AI.[40]

Kratsios also led U.S. efforts at the OECD to develop the OECD Recommendations on AI, the world's first intergovernmental policy guidelines for AI.[41]

Department of Defense

On July 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Kratsios would serve as its Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.[42] [43] [44] In this role, Kratsios served as the third highest ranking official at the Department of Defense and the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for technology, supervising all defense research and engineering, technology development, technology transition, prototyping activities, experimentation, and developmental testing activities and programs.[45] [46] Kratsios also oversaw the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Innovation Unit, the Space Development Agency, and the DOD laboratory enterprise. Kratsios managed a $106 billion research and development budget, the largest in the world.[47]

Kratsios has advocated for the Department to better leverage its unique testing authorities to accelerate innovation, to strengthen its research and development partnerships with startups and smaller innovators, and to enhance its strategic R&D collaboration with America's international allies.[48] Kratsios led the Department’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of 5G, and in October 2020, announced $600 million in awards for 5G experimentation and testing at five U.S. military test sites, representing the largest full-scale 5G tests for dual-use applications in the world.[49]

Kratsios has also advocated for greater participation of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority serving institutions (MSIs) in the defense industrial base. In September 2020, Kratsios announced $50 million in grants to HBCUs and MSIs to conduct research in defense priority areas.[50] [51]

Scale AI Inc.

In March 2021, Kratsios joined data management startup Scale AI Inc. as its managing director and head of strategy, which is a new role within the company.[52]

Recognition

Kratsios was included in Fortune Magazine’s “40 Under 40” list in 2019[53] and was honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2020.[54] Kratsios is the recipient of the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest honorary award which can be conferred on a non-career Federal employee or private citizen.[55] Kratsios was also awarded the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in 2020.[56]

Kratsios has been published in The Wall Street Journal,[57] The Washington Post,[58] Wired,Bloomberg, Fortune,[59] and CNN.[60]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Princeton Alumni Weekly . 1986. Princeton Alumni Weekly. 57 . PRNC:32101081978148 . John Kratsios *85 writes that his second child. Michael John, was born Nov. 7, 1986..
  2. News: https://archive.today/20171113220610/https://www.wsj.com/articles/michael-kratsios-plays-peacemaker-between-trump-and-tech-1510603201 . November 13, 2017 . . November 13, 2017 . Michael Kratsios Plays Peacemaker Between Trump and Tech. Douglas . MacMillan .
  3. Web site: Voria.gr. Από τη Χίο ο νέος υφυπουργός Άμυνας των ΗΠΑ, Μιχάλης Κράτσιος-Κοτσακάς. 2020-08-13. Από τη Χίο ο νέος υφυπουργός Άμυνας των ΗΠΑ, Μιχάλης Κράτσιος-Κοτσακάς.
  4. Web site: Richland School District Two - Junior Scholars Recognized.
  5. News: Will Trump name a scientist? A poli-sci grad runs the show . Scott . Waldman . . February 14, 2018 . https://archive.today/20180318172230/https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060073811 . March 18, 2018.
  6. Web site: Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies – Certificate Students – Princeton University. University. Princeton. www.princeton.edu. March 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180515233947/http://www.princeton.edu/hellenic/undergraduate/certificate-students/. May 15, 2018. dead.
  7. News: Michael John Kotsakas . Kratsios . Economic and Voting in the Third Hellenic Republic: An Aggregate and Individual-Level Analysis of the Greek Electorate, 1985-2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091229181859/http://mkratsios.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/economics-and-voting1.pdf . December 29, 2009 . April 8, 2008 . April 2, 2020 . dead .
  8. News: Michael Kratsios ’08, formerly the chief of staff for Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel, was named the White House’s deputy chief technology officer by President Donald Trump. . April 4, 2017: Kratsios '08 Joins White House Tech Office; Astronomer Ruiz *75 Honored; and More . . April 4, 2017 . Abhiram . Karuppur.
  9. Kratsios. Michael J.K.. Prior. Markus. Princeton University. Department of Politics. Economics and Voting in the Third Hellenic Republic: An Aggregate and Individual-Level Analysis of the Greek Electorate, 1985-2007. English.
  10. News: Turin G7 Ministerial Ind. – U.S. Delegation: Michael Kratsios . . September 25, 2017 . Michael graduated from Princeton University and served as a Visiting Scholar at Beijing’s Tsinghua University..
  11. Web site: Carroll Publishing - Government News. www.carrollpublishing.com. March 26, 2018. March 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326202557/https://www.carrollpublishing.com/whoentry.aspx?entry_number=126764. dead.
  12. News: Tsinghua Principles of Economics Lecture 1 . . Michael . Kratsios . 3.
  13. News: Thiel's chief of staff tapped as White House deputy CTO . Kate . Conger . March 3, 2017 . . Prior to his work at Thiel Capital, Kratsios was the chief financial officer of Clarium Capital Management, another fund company founded by Thiel..
  14. News: Trump Taps Kratsios as the White House Chief Technology Officer. Bruno. Giovanni. March 3, 2017. TheStreet. March 26, 2018.
  15. News: Mr. Trump has not yet named his top advisers on technology or science, and so far, has made just one hire: Michael Kratsios, the former chief of staff for Peter Thiel, the Silicon Valley investor and one of the president’s wealthiest supporters, as the deputy chief technology officer. . . Trump Leaves Science Jobs Vacant, Troubling Critics . March 30, 2017 . Cecilia . Kang . Michael D. . Shear.
  16. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to a Key Administration Post . whitehouse.gov. National Archives. March 22, 2019.
  17. Web site: PN563 - Nomination of Michael J.K. Kratsios for Executive Office of the President, 116th Congress (2019-2020). August 1, 2019. www.congress.gov.
  18. News: In HHS Innovation Day speech, Kratsios offers a little insight into Trump's OSTP - Fedscoop. December 13, 2017. Fedscoop. March 26, 2018.
  19. News: The White House Hosts American Leadership in Emerging Technology Event. June 29, 2017 . National Archives. whitehouse.gov. March 26, 2018.
  20. Web site: Trump will discuss drones, wireless tech with investors, execs. Axios. en. March 26, 2018. June 22, 2017. David . McCabe.
  21. News: 'Very Disappointed': Trump's Science Adviser has Left U.S. Researchers Wanting More . October 13, 2020. . Jeffrey . Mervis. en . November 1, 2020.
  22. Kratsios . Michael . Why the US Needs a Strategy for AI . February 11, 2019 . . November 7, 2020.
  23. Web site: Fitch . Asa . White House Nears New Rules on Artificial Intelligence . October 21, 2020 . . November 7, 2020.
  24. Web site: Trump Administration Announces Quantum.Gov and Quantum Frontiers Report. www.quantum.gov.
  25. News: White House Announces $1 Billion Plan to Create AI, Quantum Institutes . The Wall Street Journal. Jared . Council . August 26, 2020 .
  26. News: AI That Reflects American Values . Bloomberg News. Michael . Kratsios.
  27. Web site: January 12, 2021. National AI Initiative Office launched by White House. January 21, 2021. Fedscoop.
  28. News: Trump administration program to test expanded drone use. Reuters Editorial. March 26, 2018.
  29. News: Trump to launch drone pilot program for a neighborhood near you. NBC News. March 26, 2018. October 25, 2017. Ali . Vitali .
  30. News: Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of Transportation. whitehouse.gov. National Archives. March 26, 2018.
  31. News: Announcement of DOT Drone Integration Pilot Program. November 2, 2017. US Department of Transportation. March 26, 2018. en.
  32. News: Supercomputer Operators Gang Up On Covid-19. Sally . Ward-Foxton . May 29, 2020. EE Times.
  33. News: White House Announces New Partnership to Unleash U.S. Supercomputing Resources to Fight COVID-19. . .
  34. News: Remarks by Michael Kratsios, Deputy Assistant to the President and Head of the U.S. Delegation to the G7 ICT Industry Ministerial U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy. September 26, 2017. U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy. March 26, 2018.
  35. WHOSTP . 979087490962329600 . March 28, 2018 . Thank you @NavdeepSBains for hosting a productive @g7 ministerial on innovation and the future of work. #G7Charlevoix.
  36. Web site: Michael Kratsios to Lead U.S. Delegation at G7 Digital Ministerial in Paris. May 14, 2019.
  37. Web site: Michael Kratsios to Lead US Delegation at G20 Digital Economy Ministerial in Argentina . U.S. Mission Argentina . August 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190401042727/https://ar.usembassy.gov/michael-kratsios-to-lead-us-delegation-at-g20-digital-economy-ministerial-in-argentina/ . April 1, 2019.
  38. News: Michael Kratsios to Lead U.S. Delegation at G20 Digital Ministerial in Japan.
  39. Web site: Singman . Brooke . US technology chief warns China 'twisting' artificial intelligence to target critics, as America joins global pact . May 28, 2020 . . May 30, 2020.
  40. Web site: O'Brien . Matt . US joins G7 artificial intelligence group to counter China . May 28, 2020 . . May 31, 2020.
  41. Web site: 3 reasons you should pay attention to the OECD AI principles . The Hill. May 28, 2019 . Jessica Cussins . Newman.
  42. Web site: Gold . Ashley . U.S. CTO Michael Kratsios tapped as acting Pentagon tech chief . July 13, 2020 . . July 13, 2020.
  43. Web site: Brufke . Juliegrace . White House CTO chosen to serve as acting Pentagon tech chief . June 13, 2020 . . June 13, 2020.
  44. Web site: Shepardson . David . White House names Kratsios as Pentagon acting tech chief . June 13, 2020 . . June 13, 2020.
  45. Web site: Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Research andEngineering . Congressional Research Service.
  46. Web site: January 6, 2021. US Defense Department's reform office shuts down. January 21, 2021. DefenseNews.
  47. News: White House tech adviser gets Pentagon CTO post . The Washington Times.
  48. News: DOD Tech Chief Lays Out Vision for U.S. Technology Leadership . www.defense.gov.
  49. News: DOD Announces $600 Million for 5G Experimentation and Testing at Five Installations . www.defense.gov.
  50. News: Pentagon awards $50M to historically black colleges for scientific research . Washington Examiner.
  51. News: DoD Invests $50 million in Minority-Serving Institutions to Conduct Boundary-Pushing Scientific Research . www.cto.mil.
  52. News: Council. Jared. 2021-05-28. Scale AI Hires Former U.S. CTO Michael Kratsios as Head of Strategy. en-US. Wall Street Journal. 2021-05-31. 0099-9660.
  53. Web site: 40 Under 40: Michael Kratsios . Fortune.
  54. Web site: Young Global Leaders.
  55. Web site: Michael J.K. Kratsios. January 21, 2021. United States Department of Defense.
  56. Web site: Michael Kratsios, United States Chief Technology Officer, Keynote Speaker at Leadership 100 Conference . November 11, 2020 . November 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201111010336/http://l100.org/Default.aspx?tabid=830 . dead .
  57. News: Kratsios . Michael . May 27, 2020 . Artificial Intelligence Can Serve Democracy . . November 1, 2020.
  58. News: Kratsios . Michael . June 25, 2019 . We used to fly from New York to Paris in 3 hours. Let's do that again. . . November 1, 2020.
  59. News: Kratsios . Michael . October 23, 2019 . U.S. CTO: How America Achieved 'Quantum Supremacy' . . November 1, 2020.
  60. News: Kratsios . Michael . June 6, 2018 . Trump aide: The future of American aviation is all about drones . . November 1, 2020.

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