AI-Safety Program & Award Operations

Program Director, Future of Life Institute (2020–2025)

Problem

Some of the most consequential work in reducing catastrophic risk was done by people few have heard of, and the evidence for it is thin by nature. The Future of Life Award exists to find those people and make the case for them. That takes research that holds up in front of a board, delivered on an annual deadline.

Approach

I ran the Future of Life Award end to end for five cycles, 2020 through 2024. I had no direct reports and brought in temporary collaborators for support. Each cycle was a research process on an annual clock. I identified people whose work averted a catastrophe, tested claims that by definition left little evidence through candidate research, expert interviews and due diligence, and then made the case to the board. Two cycles were on nuclear risk. One honored the scientists behind nuclear winter, the other the storytellers behind The Day After and WarGames. The 2024 cycle honored the foundations of computer ethics and AI safety. I also wrote and co-wrote the scripts for the award films.

Operations ran alongside the research. I managed the award ceremonies on budgets up to $500K, coordinated two international workshops and their press events, and handled staff retreats, vendor selection, venues, travel and documentation. I also directed a media outreach effort on a $50K annual budget.

Outcome

The research behind the Award supported award decisions of $200,000 to $400,000 per cycle, at $50,000 per recipient. The outreach work contributed to coverage in Vox among other outlets.

Learner Engagement Systems

Learner Engagement Manager, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2020–2021)

Problem

Support for 200+ Public Leadership Credential participants was absorbing time that should have gone to the program itself, and there was no system to show where the load was coming from.

Approach

I ran a stakeholder analysis and owned the development of a new learner engagement system, working with a Salesforce administrator. At its core was a Salesforce knowledge library for triaging and tracking support. I also built and maintained the Canvas LMS environments, analyzed enrollment patterns and program outcomes in Salesforce, and standardized delivery policies so service was consistent across programs.

Outcome

Support requests fell 30%. The analysis of enrollment and outcomes gave the program findings it used in its decisions.

Partner Program Management

Partner Manager, Archibus (2007–2015)

Problem

Reaching the IWMS (Integrated Workplace Management Systems) market meant working through resellers. They needed enablement and a reason to put the product first.

Approach

I recruited and managed 15 software resellers as their primary point of contact, ran needs assessments and solution recommendations to support their sales cycles, and reviewed partner revenue and performance data supplied in company reporting to find growth opportunities.

Outcome

The channel grew 30% year over year and generated $12M in annual partner revenue. Several of those resellers retained my consultancy, Momenta Solutions, after I left.

Teaching & Research Guidance

Teaching Assistant and Instructor, Harvard Division of Continuing Education (2006–Present)

Problem

Most graduate students in these courses are doing research for the first time. Research design is where they most often go wrong.

Approach

I teach two history courses a semester, including nuclear deterrence. I lead sessions of about 25 students, deliver one to two guest lectures a semester, and manage course operations and the Canvas LMS environments. I meet one to one with every student writing a research paper and guide them through their own projects, from framing a testable question and scoping the literature to choosing methods and building a causal argument. I give written feedback on every research design and draft.

Outcome

The teaching has run continuously since 2006, alongside every other role on this page, and it continues now.