AWS Public Sector Blog

Embracing generative AI to power mission innovation: Insights from AWS US Federal Vice President David Appel

AWS branded background with text overlay that says "Embracing generative AI to power mission innovation: Insights from AWS US Federal Vice President David Appel"

The US Federal Government has endless opportunity to leverage assistive, innovative technologies, including generative artificial intelligence (AI), to help fulfill their missions. I’m curious, like many of you, about the opportunities technology provides federal-wide to help customers solve complex problems (from defense missions to fraud detection to Earth observing data for climate change) and provide a citizen-first experience.

David Appel, vice president of United States (US) Federal Sales at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Worldwide Public Sector (WWPS), is a determined and inspirational trailblazer who has built a service-based, customer obsessed career focused on making communities around the US and world a better place. As the first male in his family to graduate from college to now having a son in the United States Army, if there is anyone who knows the value of hard work and embracing one’s path to ignite a passion for helping missions succeed, it’s David.

I’m Sarah Storelli, senior global marketing leader for WWPS at AWS, and I’m on a quest to discover the people behind innovations across industries. In the vodcast series AWS Behind the Cloud, I connect with pioneers serving the public sector globally to learn more about how their stories shape and define the way they build and support cutting-edge technologies that help make the world a better place.

In the 11th episode of AWS Behind the Cloud, I sat down with David to uncover:

  • How mission innovation powered by AWS can help federal agencies solve complex problems and address mission-critical needs
  • Opportunities generative AI provides agencies federal-wide
  • What he is most excited about in the federal space for AWS customers
  • How his blue collar upbringing fueled his professional success and shaped him personally
  • Who has inspired him the most along his journey
  • What his favorite Amazon Leadership Principle is, and why
  • What he wants to be known for to future generations

Curious to learn more about David’s journey and his thoughts about generative AI being a game changer federal-wide? Watch the latest episode of AWS Behind the Cloud on YouTube or check it out on AWS Public Sector LinkedIn.

Additional resources:

Sarah Storelli

Sarah Storelli

Sarah Storelli oversees global marketing for Amazon Web Services (AWS) Worldwide Public Sector executive communications, customer programs, hospitality, and evangelism. She has a passion to help business, government, and society leverage tech for good through building strategic alliances and advocacy efforts. Sarah enjoys making the world a better place whenever possible through her various roles of service as a Trustee of the Consumer Technology Association Foundation, Member of the Cal Poly University President’s Council of Advisors, Chair of the Cal Poly English Department Advisory Board, and on the Board of Directors for World Institute on Disability and Center Point, Inc. She holds a degree in English with a minor in Law & Society from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.