Center for Applied AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds the potential to accelerate discovery and innovation and reshape our modern workforce. However, many researchers and educators lack access to the AI resources necessary to fully conduct their research activities and to train the next generation. The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) is a concept for a shared national research infrastructure to bridge this gap by connecting U.S. researchers and educators to AI resources, namely computation, data, software, models, training, and educational materials to advance research, discovery, and innovation. Access to such infrastructure is expected to: accelerate AI and AI-powered Discovery and Innovation; expand the AI workforce and train the next generation of AI researchers and educators; increase capacity, integration, and use of world-class public and private-sector AI resources; and advance AI interpretability, security, and trust.

Adel S. Elmaghraby, an IEEE Life Senior Member, is the Speed School Director of Industrial Research and Innovation and Winnia Professor of CSE and former chairman of the Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of Louisville. He has also held appointments at Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has advised over 60 master’s graduates and 24 doctoral graduates. His research and publications span intelligent systems, neural networks, cyber-security, visualization and simulation. The IEEE-Computer Society has recognized his work with multiple awards including a Golden Core membership.

Dr. Christopher Ledford serves as the Director of Data and Advanced Analytics at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). In this role, he uses data analytics to generate inferences around improving postsecondary affordability, transitions, success, equity, talent, and value in Kentucky. Prior to CPE, Dr. Ledford served in various teaching and IR positions that grew his passion for serving students. As an institutional researcher, he led award-winning projects that shaped institutional policy around student basic needs, utilization of student communication tools, and improved demographic representation of students among institutional employees. In the classroom, Dr. Ledford enjoyed teaching political science students the skills necessary to be empirical, thoughtful, and civic-minded citizens. Now at CPE, he continues to serve students by transforming Kentucky postsecondary data into actionable strategies and policies that improve student access to higher education and credentials of value.

George Insko is a well seasoned cybersecurity executive with more than two decades of experience leading enterprise security, incident response, and digital-forensics ops. His career includes roles as CIO, CISO, and Enterprise Architect, aiding organizations in tackling technological, regulatory, and geopolitical challenges. With a foundation in intelligence, natural resource management, economics, and political science, he has recently led initiatives at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI. He helps organizations securely adopt AI, manage emerging models, and integrate intelligent automation into security. Known for building high-performance teams, he also promotes leadership in technical and operational areas. A true practitioner, he blends expertise in networking, threat hunting, and incident response with a focus on business results and responsible innovation.

Travis Muncie is the Assistant Vice President for the Data and Advanced Analytics unit at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). In his role, he oversees the agency’s data strategy, information systems, policy research, and application development. Travis has an extensive background in higher education information systems and was the chief architect of the agency’s Interactive Data Center. He also led the development of the accountability framework for Kentucky’s 2022-2030 Strategic Agenda for Postsecondary Education. Travis holds a B.A and M.S. from Morehead State University and is currently pursuing his doctorate in the Studies in Higher Education PhD program at the University of Kentucky.

Danna Barnett is the Director of Entrepreneurship at Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), where she leads the Business and Innovation Unit as the designated Innovation Hub for Eastern Kentucky through KY Innovation and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. She leads the growth of a tech-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem, develops programming for student and community entrepreneurs, and connects Eastern Kentucky to statewide and national innovation resources. Danna also oversees the Eastern Kentucky Runway Social Enterprise Accelerator, which supports entrepreneurs building businesses that address workforce barriers such as childcare, housing, and transportation. She also helps lead AI-focused programming, including AI Startup Sprints and the integration of AI into accelerator curriculum, equipping founders with practical tools for innovation, growth, and problem-solving. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, she earned a BBA in Marketing with a minor in Communication as a Robinson Scholar and Chellgren Fellow, and she holds a Credential of Readiness in Business Analytics, Financial Accounting, and Managerial Economics from Harvard Business School Online. Passionate about mentoring the next generation, she is committed to advancing leadership, innovation, and economic opportunity in Appalachia.

Rusty Justice is an entrepreneur from Eastern Kentucky. His business investments provide services in engineering, mining, land development, telecom, software, and broadcasting. He holds degrees from the University of Kentucky in Mining and Civil Engineering and is a Fellow in the UK Engineering Hall of Distinction. He is also a graduate of MIT’s Regional Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program and a founding member of Accelerate Kentucky, a nonprofit focused on supporting Kentucky’s entrepreneurs and innovators. Rusty combines his love for business and engineering with a deep appreciation for Appalachia’s rich heritage. He works to leverage his capabilities to grow the local economy through diverse projects with cultural value that celebrate the Appalachian identity and promote its future.

Dr. Manmeet Singh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences at Western Kentucky University. His interdisciplinary research lies at the intersection of climate science, artificial intelligence, and Earth system modeling. Before joining WKU, Dr. Singh was a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin, where he worked on AI-augmented weather and climate prediction systems to improve forecasts related to extreme weather, health impacts, and disasters. He also served as a Scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), contributing to national climate modeling efforts and leading several projects on aerosol-monsoon dynamics and climate data downscaling. Dr. Singh holds a Ph.D. in Climate Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. His research has been recognized globally, including participation in high-impact international collaborations such as the Paris Olympics 2024 Research Demonstration Project and the Earth Virtualization Engines. Dr. Singh also maintains an active interest in mentoring, open science tools, and advancing geoscience education through digital platforms.