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Tommy Sowers
At the intersection of emerging technology and ethics. Girl Dad. Husband.
Tommy Sowers is a multifaceted leader with extensive experience across military, academic, corporate, and governmental sectors. He currently serves as the Faculty Lead of Applied Technology Ethics at Duke University's Initiative for Science & Society. In this role, Sowers directs programs such as the Applied Ethics+ program, which pairs students with organizations like OpenAI and UNESCO to address ethical challenges in technology and policy. He also mentors students, develops curricula, and fosters collaborations with industry leaders.123
Background and Education
- Education: Sowers graduated from Duke University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and later earned a Master of Science and Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. His dissertation explored the impact of technology on hierarchical organizations.134
- Military Service: An 11-year U.S. Army veteran, Sowers served as a Green Beret, leading counterinsurgency operations in Iraq and Kosovo. He also taught at West Point as an assistant professor in Social Sciences.34
Career Highlights
- Government and Policy:
- Business Leadership:
- Academia:
Current Focus
Sowers is passionate about addressing ethical challenges in emerging technologies. His leadership at Duke's Applied Technology Ethics program emphasizes real-world problem-solving by interdisciplinary student teams, tackling issues such as AI deployment and societal impacts of innovation.12

