The Federation of American Scientists was founded on November 30th, 1945. For our 80th birthday, we have been reflecting on the innovation and impact the organization has made in the world. One of the ways we have made tangible contributions in the realm of science and technology is with the FAS Talent Hub’s Impact Fellowship.

Since its launch in March 2021, the Impact Fellowship has provided a pathway for federal leaders to access leading industry experts interested in a “tour of service” in the federal government. Our first Impact Fellow to serve in the federal government was Dr. John Whitmer. Dr. Whitmer served the Director of the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), the research and development agency for the U.S. Department of Education, evaluating the potential for using Artificial Intelligence (pre-ChatGPT!) for automated scoring of the NAEP exam, among other projects. 

For Dr. Whitmer, working in public service was natural. “I’ve always been around people who make a living by caring. My mother was a Psychiatric Nurse, and my wife is a social worker,” he said, “while I’ve always been a ‘techie.’ I’ve also been interested in work that has an impact to improve people’s lives.”

However, for Dr. Whitmer, working in education was a surprise. “I didn’t like school when I was younger, I wasn’t engaged until I started studying computer engineering – Turbo Pascal.” During the “dot-com boom,” he took an alternative route, teaching computer software in a low-income housing community and teaching the queer and trans community how to build websites. This work nurtured his interest in the intersection of data, learning, and societal impact.

In addition to receiving his Master’s Degree in Sociocultural Anthropology and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UC Davis, Dr. Whitmer then spent over 20 years working in the EdTech industry. Then he came across an opportunity that he saw as a perfect next step – an Impact Fellowship within the Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

At IES, Dr. Whitmer focused on generating actionable policy insights from ED’s data sources that can support evidence-based policy on tutoring, learning acceleration, and identifying effective strategies to address interrupted learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the first, and most important lessons he learned as an outsider entering public service? He learned that the Department of Education had always been doing innovative work, and there was no shortage of that work happening.

“My time at IES gave me insight into how decisions are made within government systems, and the very real barriers to innovation and change that are often rooted in good intentions and concerns to mitigate harm.  They also showed me that there are pockets of innovation where you might least expect it, and to not underestimate the resilience of federal employees and civil servants.” 

Dr. Whitmer is currently Senior Research Scientist & founder of Learning Data Insights, a technical services and software product agency providing support to education technology companies, philanthropic foundations, and other organizations seeking to build and evaluate AI-powered applications and solutions in education. Additionally, John co-chairs the AI in Measurement Subcommittee of the National Council of Measurement in Education. 

As we enter into “Disaster Season,” shorthand for natural disasters, our teams at FAS are continuing to research prevention methods and advocate for relief efforts for a resilient global community. As FAS thinks about innovative ways to mitigate health and climate issues, we also reflect on the work our current and former Impact Fellows have done to move us closer to a safer world.

One of the over 100 Impact Fellows that has spent time working in the federal government, particularly at the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is Keana Kaleikini. From February 2024 until May 2025, as an Impact Fellow in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), she provided scientific and policy research across four divisions: the Office of Environmental Justice, the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, the Office of Science and Medicine, and the Office of the Surgeon General. In this role, she became a trusted advisor on complex scientific and policy topics spanning environmental exposures, chronic disease, and public health preparedness. Her contributions supported international treaty negotiations, informed national strategies, and supported executive briefings for HHS leadership, including senior advisors to the Surgeon General and Secretary of Health.

“I see public health as the space where science, policy, and real lives meet. My job is to make that space honest, human, and useful by always asking questions, listening longer, and following the science. So that our decisions are grounded in evidence and driven by care.”

Keana was awarded a Challenge Coin by Secretary of Health, Xavier Becerra, before his departure in recognition of exceptional contributions in shaping federal climate and environmental justice initiatives.

A fervent advocate for community health and justice, Keana has held roles spanning tribal, county, state, and federal systems – from launching tribal grassroots clean water initiatives to working with federal partners to understand some of the nation’s most complex health topics. Keana holds an MSPH in Environmental Toxicology & Policy and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Public Health degree, both from Johns Hopkins University. She is also a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow and has been recognized by Johns Hopkins with an Outstanding Graduate Award, a Community Service Award, and an induction into the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.

During her residency with FAS, she authored two articles, Protecting Agricultural Workers in a Changing Climate and OSHA’s Extreme Heat Standard Will Save Lives, which emphasized the need for equitable implementation of federal heat safety regulations and highlighted infrastructure and policy gaps affecting workers like migrant laborers.