Speakers

Dr. Lynne Graves has a highly accomplished career spanning over three decades, during which she has made significant contributions to the technology, test and evaluation, and artificial intelligence domains. Currently serving as the Chief of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division for the Department of the Air Force Chief Data and AI Office (CDAO), she is tasked with leading and managing the entire portfolio of DAF AI efforts and is widely recognized for her expertise in advanced technologies and her ability to develop and implement effective strategies for deploying cutting-edge solutions in complex environments.

Under her leadership, the DAF is poised to become AI-ready by 2025 by establishing enterprise-wide conditions for success in AI, including training, infrastructure, and policy implementation. She is committed to ensuring that the DAF is AI-competitive by 2027 by enabling DAF organizations to build on those enterprise-wide conditions to develop AI-enabled warfighting capabilities.

Dr. Graves began her career in the legal profession, serving as a Staff Judge Advocate at 7206 Air Base Group, Hellenikon Air Force Base, Greece. From there, she transitioned into academia, serving as a professor, technology coordinator, and media specialist at various institutions for several years.

Her career with the Department of the Air Force began in May 2010 when she joined InDyne, Inc., Eglin Air Force Base, where she was responsible for implementing and maintaining the organizational Information Assurance program. In this role, Dr. Graves ensured that the software, hardware, and firmware of information systems and networks complied with appropriate security guidelines and conducted risk and vulnerability assessments.

Her most recent assignment before assuming her current role was as a General Engineer for the Air Force SAF/AQR Office from November 2020 to date. In this position, she implemented and maintained the organizational Information Assurance program and functions, ensuring that software, hardware, and firmware of information systems and networks complied with appropriate security guidelines. She researched and reviewed acquisitions for security guideline compliance, and conducted risk and vulnerability assessments, security audits, and configuration management oversight.

In addition to her impressive professional accomplishments, Dr. Graves holds degrees from several prestigious institutions, including a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Science in Computer Science from Auburn University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Mississippi State University. She is a highly respected member of the Air Force community, and her contributions have been recognized through numerous commendations and awards throughout her career.

Pritha Mehra was named chief information officer (CIO) and executive vice president in November 2020, a role she had acted in since August 2020. She reports to the Postmaster General and chief executive officer. 

As CIO, Mehra oversees one of the world’s largest technology infrastructures with five national deployment and solution centers, 32,000 network locations, 20,000 servers and more than 930 applications on more than 180,000 devices—processing more than 110 petabytes of data per year. She drives secure innovative capabilities to support the Postal Service’s mission to be the nation’s preferred delivery service. 

Mehra is a thought leader on digital transformations and is focused on modernizing the USPS ecosystems, platforms and network to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive market environment, overseeing a network that supports 65,000 employees and the delivery of 127 billion mail pieces a year. 

Before being named CIO, Mehra served as vice president of Information Technology (IT), where she pivoted the 1,800-person IT group to operate at scale through cloud-smart migration, transition to an agile framework and secure the development pipeline for more than 900 applications. She also served as vice president, Mail Entry and Payment Technology, where she led innovations for business customers that captured more than $40 billion in annual revenue and over $200 million in annual revenue shortage and savings.

Mehra has been honored with numerous awards, including Postal Service recognition for superior achievement and the Postmaster General Award. She was also named Top Boss in IT by FedScoop in 2021 and 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University. Mehra completed the Senior Executive Assessment and Development Center Program. She is a Lean Six Sigma Executive Green Belt.

Professional Experience: Dr. Viveca Pavon-Harr is a Data Scientist with 10 years of experience
applying data science to enable advanced capabilities, predictive capabilities, data visualization,
and rapid prototyping of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Also, she has professional
experience in project and program management pertaining to research and analytics related to
Economics and supporting Sustainability initiatives.

Education: Her academic formation started at the University of Texas with a B.S. in Economics
and possesses master’s degrees in Business Administration, Economics, and Geospatial
Information Sciences. Dr. Pavon-Harr holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas in
Public Policy and Political Economy. Her researched focused on geospatial analysis of
organized criminal groups in Latin America. She has publications on various aspects of Artificial
Intelligence including research on geospatial analysis of deforestation in the Amazon and its
impact on trade.

Digital business leader, editor and creative storyteller with nearly 25 years of online experience. Proven track record of recruiting and developing talent, turning bright ideas into real-world execution, and making online innovation a core part of broader media and communications strategies.

Also knows a thing or two about public policy, government IT, open data, business development, data visualization, technology policy, executive-branch operations, small-batch bourbon and Big Ten basketball.

Specialties: Government Technology, Digital Strategy, Web Publishing, Editing, Staff Development, Drupal (Open Source CMS), Marketing, Open Data, Data Visualization, Online Politics, Campaign Finance, Business Development