How did one of the world’s biggest bureaucracies successfully develop a sleek, efficient, and user-friendly online benefits experience for veterans? Today’s guest, Charles Worthington, CTO of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs shares how he applied a tech startup mentality to help make the VA’s services more accessible to our nation’s finest, and why he hopes to spark a “tradition of public service” in the tech industry.

Tune in to learn:

• An overview of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ digital services (2:55)
• The effort to rebuild the VA website (5:00)
• How the VA mobile app was launched (12:551)
• The state of tech in the public sector   (28:50)

Mentions:

• VA: Health and Benefits App
• Presidential Innovation Fellows
• United States Digital Service
• Careers – DigitalVA – Veterans Affairs

To view the episode transcript, please click here: Episode Transcript

About the Guest:

BIO: “Charles is a developer and product designer focusing on web and mobile software. He currently is currently working to modernize digital products at the VA. Previously, Charles helped build the United States Digital Service, a team of world-class developers, designers and product experts working in government with the goal of transforming the government’s most important services. Charles served as a Senior Advisor to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he helped lay the groundwork for the creation of the Digital Service.

Charles is the creator of Preamp.fm, and was responsible for all aspects of its design and development. Charles is also the founder of Gray Duck Labs, where he helped develop unique ideas into successful web and mobile products.

Prior to building things at Gray Duck Labs, Charles was a manager at Altman Vilandrie & Co., a boutique management consulting firm specializing in the telecom and technology industries. At AV&Co., Charles advised Fortune 500 telecom/tech clients on adapting to disruptive web and mobile technologies.

Charles also served a term appointment at the FCC as a part of the National Broadband Task Force, where he helped create the National Broadband Plan, a blueprint for the country’s next-generation communications policy.

Charles received his B.A. in Social Studies from Harvard University, where he produced the Hasty Pudding Theatrical’s 157th production.”

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