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What We Do

Empower AI uses innovative technologies and their specialized platform to support federal missions and empower agency personnel to solve unique government challenges​.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Henry Moran - U.S. Army Veteran and Technical Recruiter

Sergeant First Class Moran says the Army was his family for 17 years, and now he feels the same way at Empower AI.

Ted Jennings - U.S. Army Veteran and Program Manager

During a 30-year career in the U.S. Army, Empower AI's Ted Jennings has just about done it all.

Michael Quevedo - Army Staff Sergeant and Facility Security Officer

Michael Quevedo is a protector- it's in his blood. He draws on these skills in his role as a Facility Security and Insider Threat Officer.

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Henry Moran - U.S. Army Veteran and Technical Recruiter

Empower AI’s Henry Moran remembers the day like it was yesterday. He was a senior in high school when his mom asked him to go pick up some lunch at a new restaurant one Saturday afternoon. While looking for the restaurant, he got a little lost in the New Jersey neighborhood and stopped into a nearby Army recruiter’s office for directions.


But the direction he received that day from the recruiter was a lot more than he bargained for.


“I signed up on the spot,” said Moran, who ironically, wound up serving 17 years in the Army, finishing his service as a recruiter.


At the time, Moran, who is now a senior recruiter for Empower AI, already had plans to attend St. John’s University later that fall. But the brief conversation with the Army recruiter that early summer afternoon made him think differently about his future.


“It was a casual conversation, but I trusted him,” Moran said of the recruiter. “We just talked, and he listened. And eventually when I became a recruiter, that’s exactly what I did, and I still do today. Talk and listen.”


But Moran noted that he almost didn’t make it to boot camp at all later that summer. While working on a summer job for the city, he contracted a horrible case of poison ivy on his legs, which required significant medical care, and he even had to walk with a cane.


“I told my recruiter what happened, and he was like, ‘Sorry that happened, but you better figure it out,’” Moran said. “I definitely wasn’t 100 percent when I went to boot camp, but I made it through.”


Indeed, Moran made it through boot camp in the scorching heat of Fort Jackson, S.C., and went on to serve his next 10 years in Hawaii, first at Schofield Barracks Army Base in Oahu, and then at nearby Wheeler Army Airfield. His job that first decade was in Human Resources, but he also deployed three times to Iraq during that period, one year for each tour.


During his time in Iraq, he was thankful he didn’t have to go “outside the wire” very often, but while stationed near Sadam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit in 2006, he’ll never forget the heavy bombings that came the day after Hussein was executed.


“It was intense,” he said. “We got bombed and bombed that day, and the ground shook constantly.”


Recruiting the Next Generation

During his last tour in Iraq, he got a letter from the Army that said he was going back to the states to be trained as an Army recruiter in Alabama, which at first, wasn’t something he wanted to do. He had already worked out his next assignment to return to Hawaii.

“It was obviously a big change, but it worked out great,” he said, adding that he stayed in Dothan, Ala., for four years, where as a recruiter, he was a welcomed member of the community.


“I enjoyed it so much – I really enjoyed those kids,” he said. “I could go to any high school or college in the area, and I could always tell who needed help. Families trusted me with their kids.”


Moran ended his Army career in Sterling, Va., where he had risen to the rank of E7 (Sergeant, First Class) and oversaw the office, which included all the Loudoun County high schools and colleges. He left the Army in 2017 and joined Empower AI a few months later. He still has that sense of mission and tackles it the same way each day.


“The Army was my family for 17 years, and now at Empower AI, I feel the same way,” he said. He added that he stays in contact with almost every recruit he helped enlist.


Today, Moran has more time to focus more on family, which is the most important thing to him. He has two daughters, one of whom is only 8 years old, but despite her young age, she’s already a top 5 golfer in the state of Ohio, where he lives today.


“She’s amazing, and everyone is in awe of her ability,” Moran said proudly, adding that he was caddying for her when she got her first eagle. “She was so stoked. It was a par 4 and she drove the green. She talked about it for weeks.”


Moran also finds time for his own hobby – bowling. He made the Army team twice during his time of service, and today, he boasts an average of 208.


On Veterans Day, he doesn’t have plans to get a free meal or get any special deals as a Veteran. But he definitely will reach out to his lifelong friends from his time of service and share some memories.


“We all deserve more than a free meal, but I don’t do any of that,” he said. “I know in my heart what I did, and how I did it. I will always have those experiences.”

    • Mar 14
    • 2 min read

Melissa Rinehart - CMS PERM Assistant Project Director

What does being a “Assistant Project Director” mean?

Being an Assistant Project Director can mean so many things, including ensuring the staff on my contract have the support and resources needed to be successful. It also means supporting staff with professional development and lending an extra set of hands wherever and whenever needed on the contract.

How did you find yourself on this path?

I started in employer-based insurance at a very young age and found that I loved working with insurance and claims; however, I was always interested in management. I started in this company as a data analyst and worked my way into management so I could combine these two interests.


Who has motivated you the most in your career / life?

My parents and family have been huge motivators. They have always supported and encouraged me. I have been very fortunate to have had some amazing co-workers throughout my career, and I see the challenges they deal with every day. They truly motivate me to give them my best effort.


What life challenges have resulted in the most unexpected positive results?

Very early in my career, at a previous employer, my manager pulled me aside to tell me I had advanced as far as I could in the company without a degree. She encouraged me to earn a degree to give myself a fighting chance at promotions. I did just that. I earned my BSBA while working full-time. Ten years later I returned to school to earn my MBA. I learned invaluable skills while earning my degrees that have certainly had a positive impact on my life and career.


What is the favorite place you have lived and why?

I have always resided in Columbus, Ohio. I could choose to live in a number of different places and maybe I will one day, but Ohio has my heart. It is a great place to raise a family, it’s rich in history, and has a great number of places to explore no matter what your interests are. I would be evicted from the state if didn’t mention my beloved Buckeyes and TBDBITL (to my fellow Ohioans – O! -H!).


What is your favorite book and/or movie of all time?

In honor of Women’s History Month, I highly recommend the movie Hidden Figures.


What are the 3 pieces of advice you would give women in our industry?

  1. Do not be afraid to go first/try something new. Even if you fail, you gain valuable experience.

  2. Believe in yourself. We all have motivators and encouragers, but you need to be one for yourself too.

  3. Make a conscious decision to be positive every day. You will attract other positive people and have a more fulfilling work life.


What woman or women in history do you admire most and why?

Katherine Johnson – She lived such an interesting life. Trying to solve “race to space” challenges for her country while dealing with daily reminders that she was different and did not belong.


What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Women’s History Month is a reminder to me to celebrate our accomplishments. We have always been here making important contributions to society. Celebrate that and remember to support each other’s efforts.

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