About the founder

Dr. Thomas Easterly is a visionary leader, educator, and innovator with over 35 years of experience in education, leadership, and artificial intelligence. As the Founder of the Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AI COE), Dr. Easterly is a recognized leader in transforming organizations, educators, and government agencies in Generative AI to drive efficiency, innovation, and strategic decision-making.

A U.S. Army veteran with 21 years of service and over a decade as a Department of Defense civil servant, Dr. Easterly brings a mission-driven approach to every endeavor. His leadership has empowered thousands of individuals, training more than 2,500 DoD civilians on generative AI tools and integrating AI-driven solutions across numerous federal agencies, resulting in an over 50% improvement in productivity and acceleration of digital transformation tools.

Holding a Doctorate in Education and 23 professional certificates in Generative AI, Dr. Easterly combines academic excellence with cutting-edge technical mastery. Complemented by advanced executive training from Vanderbilt University’s Senior Executive Course in Generative AI, he exemplifies the seamless integration of human insight and technological innovation.

Through the Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AI COE), Dr. Easterly continues to pioneer the future of learning and organizational transformation—where human potential and artificial intelligence evolve together to create a smarter, more equitable world.