Meet the Team🇺🇸🌸🐇 Spring 2020
Deployed with teams across the federal government, they’re delivering better government services to all Americans through design and technology.
When you join USDS, you become part of a community that extends to life after your tour of duty. Since we were founded by the President in 2014, over 500 people have served, modernizing government, shifting culture, and showing what’s possible.
Meet the newest members of the U.S. Digital Service family — recruited from tech communities across the country. They come from newsrooms, startups, big tech companies, and government agencies.
John Hashimoto (he/ him), VA.gov Product Manager, USDS @ Department of Veterans Affairs. Previously CNN and The Weather Channel. From Atlanta, GA.
I’m a former TV news journalist and producer turned accidental product manager who has spent the past decade building an array of media products — Connected TV apps, a Presidential election mobile app, and my favorite, a Cold War documentary companion website for Ted Turner. Sprinkled in there were brief forays in startup world, including a science-climate news media venture that never quite found the wealthy patron needed to seed it. I am thrilled — and proud — to be posted with the growing digital team at VA.gov (my father is a retired Marine) whose mission is to modernize the online experience for the nation’s veteran community.
Which living person do you most admire?
Bill McKibben, who long before it became fashionable, wrote elegiac warnings about climate change and The End of Nature. But more than a sage and gifted writer, McKibben is an activist who co-founded Climate 350, one of the first global grassroots climate change organizations. It is one thing to report on an existential problem. It is a giant leap to try to solve one.
What is your greatest fear?
That Bill McKibben’s words and work will go unheeded.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Speed reading.
Heather Myers (she/ her), UX Designer, USDS @ Department of Health and Human Services. Previously Publicis Sapient. From Detroit, MI.
Before joining USDS, I worked for Publicis Sapient on a contract for U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. Having worked in government as a contractor, I saw first-hand the uphill challenges agencies were facing when trying to improve their technology. I was drawn to USDS because I wanted to face those challenges head-on from a new perspective, and work with a team of dedicated, passionate people.
Where would you most like to live?
Somewhere that doesn’t have winter.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I’d like to be able to sing — not that my lack of talent has ever stopped me before.
What is your current state of mind?
Concerned.
Jeff Barrett (he/ him), Engineer, USDS @ Department of Veterans Affairs. Previously CTO, Stitch Fix. From San Francisco, CA.
Before joining USDS I had a career as a technologist in the Bay Area. In my last full-time job, I ran Engineering, Product, and Design at Stitch Fix for 4 years as their first CTO. I left in 2016 and spent 3 years advising tech companies and facilitating workshops on leadership skills and emotional intelligence. Since joining USDS in January 2020, I’ve worked on projects at OPM, EEOC, and I’m now helping the VA transform how they build and operate technology products.
How would you like to die?
By living forever. Why do I have to like dying?
On what occasion do you lie?
To myself when shopping online.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Learning about myself. I spent most of my life working hard but not knowing who I truly was, how other people perceived me, or how to live a life aligned with my values. Friends, mentors, and loved ones have generously (and patiently) helped me grow.
Jason Kahn (he/ him), Product Manager, USDS @ Health and Human Services. Previously Microsoft. From Atlanta, GA.
I’m excited to join the USDS team at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Our project right now is to help with modernization efforts to the systems that keep payments flowing every day to all of the doctors, nurses, and many other healthcare providers who treat the 60 million Americans enrolled in Medicare.
My background is in tech and marketing; prior to joining USDS, I’ve dabbled in everything from Rwandan hot sauce to Minor League quick breads, but I spent most of my time as a PM at Microsoft. Recent projects include Windows Spotlight and a trust graph for Skype. Also, Microsoft’s College Puzzle Challenge.
I come to USDS under a Civic Leave. If you’re interested in USDS, one route is to talk with your company about establishing a leave program for civic service and come join us!
Who are your favorite writers?
Colton Whitehead, Mary Roach, Joshua Ferris
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Up early to enjoy a mug of good coffee before exploring a new place
What do you most value in your friends?
Compassion; passion to share their interests; tolerance for puns, excessive walking, and exploration (near or far)
Danielle Thierry (she/ her), Content Strategist, USDS @ Department of Veterans Affairs. Previously Content Director at The So Company. From Philadelphia, PA.
I’ve spent most of my career as a content strategist, writer, and editor focused on health care and serious conditions like cancer, HIV, and rare neurological disorders. Some of my most rewarding recent projects were working on public health initiatives with the Vermont Department of Health and with a nonprofit to write a continuing medical education course for health care providers to raise awareness and understanding of a rare chromosome disorder.
At USDS, I’ll be working with the VA team to continue building simple, plain language tools and resources for Veterans, service members, and their families. I was part of the website team as a contractor for 3 years, and am so grateful to be able to continue this important work.
Who are your favorite writers?
Louise Erdrich is my all-time favorite. She just captures so perfectly the complex nuances of individuals as part of a larger whole of family, culture, religion, and circumstance. And she does it with language that has such power and beauty, like she’s hidden lots of little poems within her stories that pop up and take your breath away.
What is your most treasured possession?
My piano. Being able to just sit down and get lost in playing music has gotten me through so much in life, and has brought me so much joy. I’m honestly not sure what I’d do without it.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A day with my husband and our two boys that includes any combination of working in our vegetable gardens, hiking in the woods, singing or reading poetry together, and a swim and camp fire down at the river.
Zack Abbott (he/ him), Talent Operations, USDS HQ. Previously General Dynamics IT. From Rockville, MD.
The last seven and a half years I was employed by GDIT supporting several government contracts and working my way up the ladder until I landed a spot as a HR Specialist for the last year and a half. I served in many administrative roles prior to that, but found my calling when I stepped into the HR role. I thoroughly enjoy working with people, helping them be successful in their professional roles, and ensuring they are taken care of in their personal lives as well.
I joined USDS to do the same. As a member of the talent team, I’m working to bring on great people to support our mission and also ensure they have everything they need to be successful.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I was a gifted musician. As much as I love sports and anything of the like, I always wish I was musically inclined. I’ve been an athlete my entire life, but I can’t live without music. I have tried my take at the electronic aspect of music, but could still use the basic knowledge of chords, notes, etc. to help guide my musical interests.
What is your motto?
I look at life two ways, “stuff happens,” and “always smile and laugh.” I’ve pretty much built who I am around those two things and have found solace in knowing that I can’t control most things in life, but I can control who I am and how I react. The glass is always half full for this guy, no matter what the situation is; always looking at things from a positive/optimistic perspective and making light out of whatever the situation is.
When and where were you happiest?
It’s not a matter of when and where, because I’m always happy. There may be bad days, but even on those bad days I tend to find something positive out of them. If I were to describe what makes me happiest, it’s spending time with my friends and family, having a nice cold beer and just laughing. Laughing is my favorite thing in the world, that and my dog and wife (the cat’s cool too). Also love baseball and live music. Go Nationals, rock & roll, hip hop, and EDM (more so house music currently).
Michelle Steigerwalt (she/her), Engineer, USDS @ Department of Veterans Affairs. Previously Fitzroy Academy. From Carbon County, PA.
I’m an open source hacker with a background in framework design. Prior to joining USDS, I was at Fitzroy Academy, where I helped bootstrap a globally distributed remote team to build out a scalable online education solution with a focus on instructor insight and overall user experience. Before that, I worked at Mapbox, establishing the OpenStreetMap Data Platform Team and moving on to Mapbox’s enterprise on-premise GIS solution, Atlas. At USDS, I’ve been working to memorize all government acronyms and provide the public with the best possible services.
What is your current state of mind?
What is your greatest regret?
Procrastinating on my ham radio license.
How would you like to die?
In space, preferably of old age.
Jim Duff (he/ him), Engineer, USDS @ Health and Human Services. Previously Director of Software Engineering at WorldAware. From Annapolis, MD.
I’ve managed to carve out a career making software tools and building software teams that make the world a better place in a lot of different ways. I’ve written code for global warming researchers, cancer researchers, medical diagnostic systems, and for many years led the software team for the Public Radio Satellite Services at NPR, helping to keep public radio reliably on the air for 30 million or so listeners nationwide. Joining USDS is a great chance to continue in this path!
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I like to be outdoors as much as I can — usually on my bike, but it could be hiking, camping with my family or just hanging out on in the backyard with my family and friends. Of course, happiness comes easiest when we’re not focused on ourselves, so I try, at least a little bit, to make sure other people’s needs are taken care of too, mostly through our church family, where we are active in issues around homelessness, housing, immigration, international development, and violence in our communities.
The best of technology.
The best of government.
And we want you.
We’re looking for the most tenacious designers, software engineers, product managers, and more, who are committed to untangling, rewiring and redesigning critical government services. You’ll join a team of the most talented technologists from across the private sector and government.
If you have questions regarding employment with the U.S. Digital Service, please contact us at usds@omb.eop.gov or visit our Hiring FAQ.
