IFE in Silicon Valley: Institute for Education celebrates, Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIFs), United States Digital Services, 18F, DIUx
The Institute for Education hosted its Third Annual West Coast reunion on Saturday, May 20th with an outdoor brunch at the beautiful home of Former U.S. Chief Data Scientist D.J. Patil and IFE Digital Ambassador Devika Patil in Atherton, CA.
Over made to order dosas and glasses of rose in the early summer heat, IFE celebrated those who perform a “tour of duty” within the government. In attendance were those who are serving, or who have served, in the Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIFs) program, the United States Digital Service, 18F, and the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx).
During a brief speaking program, Todd Park, former White House Chief Technology Officer and Adviser to Former President Barack Obama, remarked on the importance of technology leaders serving in government. “It was an honor for me to work alongside each and every one of you,” he said, “thank you for your service.” He encouraged the continued collaboration between those in the technology community and government service.
“We are thankful for the continued support and intellectual conversations with the PIFs and look forward to increased future collaborations with D.C. and the tech community,” said Devika Patil, IFE Digital Ambassador.
Coach Kathy Kemper, CEO and Founder of the Institute for Education, welcomed friends of IFE in Silicon Valley and thanked D.J. and Devika for opening their home.
On Monday, May 22nd, POLITICO’s Playbook Power Briefing mentioned the IFE Reunion and those in attendance: “D.C. techies celebrated innovation in Silicon Valley. .. Dhanurjay “DJ” Patil, former Chief Data Scientist of the United States Office of Science and Technology Policy; Devika Patil, IFE digital ambassador; Coach Kathy Kemper, IFE CEO and founder; Ryan Panchadsaram, deputy chief technology officer; Todd Park, former U.S. chief technology officer; all gathered at the home of DJ and Devika Patil in Atherton, Calif. SPOTTED: Raj Shah, Christopher Kirchhoff, Kristen Honey and Karl Mehta”
The Presidential Innovation Fellows program was founded in 2012 with a goal of bringing the nation’s top innovators and technologists to work inside of the government. Many PIFs originally hailed from the Bay Area or Silicon Valley and for the third year in a row, IFE has hosted a reunion to connect PIF alumni with current PIFs and allow for new connections to be strengthened, ideas to be exchanged, and have our badass community be built!
IFE is committed to its mission of harnessing the power of innovation, data and technology, to find common ground. Supporting the PIF program and innovation in government through the U.S. Digital Service and 18F communities are goals which fit squarely within IFEs founding principles.
View photos of the event here.
Contributed by Chris Golden, IFE Digital Innovation Fellow
