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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.”

    • Aug 29
    • 2 min read

Kristopher Hollon - U.S. Army Veteran and Director, Empower AI Delivery

In your role at Empower AI, how do you use the skills you learned as a military leader?

During my 20-year career in the U.S. Army, I adopted the Army values – Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. I carry those values forward in my new career at Empower AI. I believe people want leaders who lead by example, and my values are displayed in my leadership style.


What inspired you to get involved in innovation?

I’m a competitive person who believes winning matters. Challenging the status quo, finding efficiency, and creating solutions to problems are sure ways to win.


During your career, what are some specific challenges or obstacles you have faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?

One of the more difficult challenges I faced throughout my military career was uncertainty. While I could not change the overall uncertainty we were facing, I always worked hard to provide my team with predictability through planning and communication.


Based on your training in the military, what are some of the key achievements or milestones in your career that you are proud of?

Early on in my career, I was fortunate to have a mentor that stressed the importance of developing short-, mid-, and long-term goals. The goals I set for myself created a pathway for me to become a subject matter expert in my field and retire at my desired rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 with a bachelor’s degree in management.


From your experience in the military, why is responsible AI important to the future of the military and the nation?

It all goes back to values. Our adversaries are constantly working to undermine our national interests. We must leverage every tool available to maintain our competitive advantage while protecting human rights and our God-given freedoms.


What motivates you to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in your work?

Competition. Having served an entire military career during a time of conflict and war, I know firsthand the importance of pushing the boundaries and striving for excellence. When lives are on the line – nothing less is acceptable.


In your view, why is it important that we celebrate Military Appreciation Week?

Our all-volunteer military is made up of people who have chosen to selflessly serve the people of the United States of America. It takes a special type of person to decide to commit themselves to defending our freedoms. I am thankful for everyone who has the courage and dedication to put it all on the line to protect the Constitution of the United States.


Is there anything else you would like us to know about you or your work?

I am grateful to work for an organization that supports the Department of Defense and our armed forces.

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