Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Three East Tennesseans are among seven external appointees to the State of Tennessee’s new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Council. Created this year by the Tennessee General Assembly, the Council, whose members are appointed by Governor Bill Lee, will provide recommendations and draw up an action plan for AI use in state government.

The East Tennessee externally-named members are:

• Dr. Lynne Parker, recently retired from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) who served as Associate Vice Chancellor and Director of the new AI Tennessee Initiative at UTK;
• Dr. Prasana Balaprakash, Director of AI programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and
• Joe Baker, Founder of Ole Smoky Mountain Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing Company.

The majority of the AI Council members are state administrators and legislators. It is co-chaired by Commissioner Jim Bryson of the Department of Finance and Administration, and Stephanie Dedmon, the State’s Chief Information Officer. Other members include:

• Grant Minchew, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the State of Tennessee;
• Commissioner Carter Lawrence, Department of Commerce and Insurance;
• Callie Cook, Global Director of Research and Development Initiatives in the Department of Economic and Community Development;
• Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds, Department of Education;
• Commissioner Juan Williams, Department of Human Resources;
• Assistant Commissioner Ryan Allen, Department of Labor and Workforce Development;
• Deputy Commissioner Gregory Mays, Department of Safety and Homeland Security;
• Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti;
• Vinay Dattu, Director of Legislative Information Services;
• Richard Littlehale, Assistant Director, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation;
• Senator Bo Watson;
• Senator Paul Bailey;
• Representative Patsy Hazelwood; and
• Representative Kevin Vaughan.

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