Ann Dunkin joined the Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) as a distinguished external fellow in April. Before that, she served as the chief information officer at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she managed the department’s information technology portfolio and modernization; oversaw its cybersecurity efforts; led technology innovation and digital transformation; and enabled collaboration across the agency. Dunkin also served in former President Barack Obama’s administration as chief information officer of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Other previous roles include chief strategy and innovation officer at Dell Technologies; chief information officer for the County of Santa Clara, California; chief technology officer for Palo Alto Unified School District in California; and leadership positions at Hewlett Packard focused on engineering, research and development, IT, manufacturing engineering, software quality, and operations. 

Dunkin is a published author, most recently of the book Industrial Digital Transformation, and a frequent speaker on topics such as government technology modernization, digital transformation, and organizational development. She received the 2022 Capital CIO Large Enterprise ORBIE Award and has earned numerous honors, including Washington, D.C.’s Top 50 Women in Technology for 2015 and 2016; Computerworld’s Premier 100 Technology Leaders for 2016; StateScoop’s Top 50 Women in Technology list for 2017; FedScoop’s Golden Gov Executive of the Year in 2016 and 2021; and FedScoop’s Best Bosses in Federal IT 2022.  

Dunkin holds a master of science degree and a bachelor of industrial engineering degree, both from Georgia Tech. She is a licensed professional engineer in California and Washington state. In 2018, she was inducted into Georgia Tech’s Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni. 

Below is a short Q&A with Dunkin reflecting on how the Institute influenced her career.

• How did your Georgia Tech education shape your approach to leadership and innovation throughout your career?

  My Georgia Tech education instilled the core ideas and values that we see in our graduates today, and that made me successful in my career. You can’t graduate from Georgia Tech without learning how to be part of a team and to lead through influence, which may be the hardest part of leadership. It’s far easier, although less effective, to lead through authority. In addition, the concept of grit has informed my approach to my roles — that my team and I will work hard together to find solutions to difficult challenges and that no challenge is too hard if we set our minds to accomplishing it. This may seem like an unusual connection to innovation, but it’s not. A lot of people think that innovation is about a light bulb going off in your head with a great idea. Sure, that happens sometimes. But the idea is only the spark of innovation. Innovation is about the hard work to turn an idea into reality — and that’s why it takes grit. You have to do the work and not be discouraged by setbacks.  

• What does it mean to you to return to Georgia Tech as a distinguished external fellow?

  First, coming back to Georgia Tech feels like the ultimate full circle moment. It’s an honor to be invited back as a distinguished external fellow and a distinguished professor of the practice. It shows that the leadership team at Georgia Tech, one of the best engineering institutions in the world, respects the work that I’ve done in my career. Second, this is an exciting opportunity to shift gears in my career, continue to do interesting work, and contribute at a high level. I’m excited to be here and look forward to what we’re going to accomplish together. 

• What aspect of your collaboration with the SEI are you most passionate about?

  There are so many things that it’s hard to identify just one. The SEI is at the center of the future of energy, working to solve difficult problems to ensure that we have abundant, affordable, clean energy. During my time at the Energy Department, I developed a strong interest in energy technology, including next-generation nuclear, fusion, and battery technologies. I’m also interested in grid resilience, particularly permitting, planning, and cybersecurity. I hope to help the SEI deepen collaboration with the Energy Department’s labs and to engage other partners as well.

• How do you see the SEI influencing the energy landscape of our nation?

  The SEI has the ability to influence at a level that exceeds its size. It can drive collaboration between Georgia Tech, national labs, and the private sector on critical issues in the energy sector from research to implementation. I like that the SEI embraces its role as a convener, bringing all the parties together to make something happen.