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Happy December!
It's been an exciting year for the U.S. Digital Corps, as we welcomed our inaugural cohort of Fellows — 38 passionate, mission-driven technologists working across a dozen federal agencies to better serve the public with technology.
Along the way, we met so many students, recent graduates, and career changers at in-person and virtual events sharing about opportunities to start a tech career in government, and we also opened applications for our next cohort of Fellows, who will start in 2023.
As 2022 comes to and, here are some of our favorite moments of the year. We're proud of all our Fellows and partners have accomplished in our program's first full year, and are looking forward to all that's to come in the new year.
We're just getting started, and hope you will continue to join us as we build towards our mission of a sustainable early-career tech talent pipeline for the federal government that reflects the diversity of the United States.
Have a safe and happy new year,
- The U.S. Digital Corps team
P.S. If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here for more news and updates about the U.S. Digital Corps.
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 U.S. Digital Corps Fellows with civic tech leaders on the steps of the White House Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
In June, after an exciting welcome from Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana, we hosted Fellows in Washington, D.C. for for a week of orientation, civic tech exploration, and community building.
Fellows met with technologists and leaders across the federal government, including the U.S. Digital Service, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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After three months on the job, Fellows returned to D.C. in October for in-person professional development, where they heard from GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan and learned about civic tech in the U.S. Congress — including TechCongress, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, and the House Digital Service.
 U.S. Digital Corps Fellows pose with GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan and Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana
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As our Fellows pave a new career trajectory in civic tech, many of them took time to reflect on their experience and journeys to working as technologists in the federal government — showcasing the diversity of life experiences and entry points to the U.S. Digital Corps.
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Jamila Crawford
Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
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Transitioning from law enforcement to cybersecurity: A U.S. Digital Corps Fellow’s journey
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Jamila Crawford shared her transition from working at the state level with the Georgia Department of Corrections to working in cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). "The impact you’re able to make in government — whether it’s protecting the community, ensuring that technology works to get the job done, or developing policies that will benefit the public — makes public service unique and worthwhile."
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Sahithi Adari
Data Science and Analytics, Office of Personnel Management
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McCourt alumna recognized among the nation’s top technology talent
In a feature by Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, Sahithi Adari reflected on her path from graduate school to working on equitable data issues at the Office of Personnel Management: “Through the USDC program, I am leveraging data science to help solve large public policy problems in an equitable manner, reducing barriers and ensuring that data is being used to help, not harm.”
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Multiple Digital Corps Contributors
Design, Engineering, and Product Fellows
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U.S. Digital Corps Fellows Start Their Journeys in Federal Government
Four of our Fellows were featured by the Public Interest Technology University Network. They shared their journeys in civic tech and reflections on their work thus far: "Technology modernization and lack thereof regularly came up as both a barrier and opportunity: to social services and the safety net, to equity, to policy, and so on. I already knew I was looking for a job that would let me deepen my technology skills while continuing to work for the public good, so I was really excited to see the U.S. Digital Corps opportunity come up."
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Meredith Brown
Data Science and Analytics, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
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Implementing Equitable Data To Ensure Government Works for the Public
Meredith Brown reflected on her journey to civic tech and her impactful work supporting the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. "As a new member of the workforce, I anticipated being given the smaller tasks, but my team has given me large tasks with real responsibility. Their faith in my skills and willingness to facilitate my development as a leader is encouraging and extremely rewarding."
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Multiple USDC Contributors
Engineering Fellows
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Making Impact at Scale: Software Engineering in the Federal Government
Four U.S. Digital Corps Fellows shared what a day in the life of a software engineer in government looks like and reflected on their journeys to civic tech: "After reading about the mission of the Digital Corps and speaking with others who had previously worked with the government, I thought it would give me the greatest ability to make an impact at scale—far beyond anything a large tech company could offer a junior software engineer."
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 U.S. Digital Corps Fellows present at the 2022 Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing.
2022 was a year of meeting people where they are. Our team enjoyed engaging with the tech and civic tech communities—both in-person and virtually. From career fairs to conferences and Twitter takeovers to cross-border conversations, we enjoyed sharing more about the U.S. Digital Corps and opportunities in civic tech with students, recent graduates, and technologists passionate about creating a more effective, equitable government.
Members of the U.S. Digital Corps team and colleagues from the Technology Transformation Services in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
We hit the road in 2022, visiting Puerto Rico for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Convention. Our team enjoyed meeting partners across the island's civic tech and innovation ecosystem, and shared with San Juan local news (en Español) about how the Digital Corps offers opportunities for early-career technologists to work remotely from anywhere in the United States, including U.S. territories.
 U.S. Digital Corps leaders pose with Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana after receiving the FedScoop 50 Innovation of the Year award.
We were honored to be recognized as the 2022 "Innovation of the Year" by FedScoop — a testament to our Fellows and our incredible partners at GSA and across the federal government. The Digital Corps was also named one of 30 "Federal IT Influencers Worth a Follow in 2022" by FedTech Magazine!
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