In an era where technology moves at breakneck speed and government operations demand ever-greater efficiency, Oklahoma City is leading the charge in modernizing public service.

This year, as part of our NobleReach Scholars program, three exceptional young professionals – Dira Delpech, Joann Hong and Marcus Brumfield – will join the City’s Office of Innovation and Department of Information Technology for yearlong placements supporting important initiatives that improve how the city serves its residents.

The Perfect Match: Innovation Meets Public Service

“The NobleReach Scholars bring more than just technology expertise,” said NobleReach Senior Vice President for Talent Rebeca Lamadrid during a fireside chat with Oklahoma City Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Kelly Williams at this year’s Special Competitive Studies Project AI+ Expo for National Competitiveness.  “A NobleReach Scholar has, the skillset, but also empathy, curiosity and willingness to meet people where they are in an institution like the City of Oklahoma City,” Rebeca emphasized.

“A public service mindset is critical to the Scholars’ success in their placement. This year, they will focus on artificial intelligence, data science and business process innovation, bringing their skills and fresh perspectives to municipal operations. They’ll help dig into challenges across the city government and work with staff to come up to speed on new technologies like AI,” said Kelly.

A National Movement in Action

The Oklahoma City partnership is part of a larger expansion to all levels of government for the NobleReach Scholars program. This year’s cohort selected just 28 exceptional individuals from an impressive pool of over 1,200 applicants representing more than 100 universities nationwide. These scholars are now embedded across 15 federal, state and local government agencies, plus five mission-driven industry partners.

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

What sets the NobleReach Scholars apart is the comprehensive support system designed to cultivate the next generation of public service leaders. Scholars receive pre-placement stipends to ease relocation, intensive orientation bootcamps, quarterly professional development workshops, and personalized mentorship from distinguished leaders across both public and private sectors.

For Oklahoma City’s residents, this partnership means more than just technological advancement—it represents a commitment to excellence in public service and a forward-thinking approach to governance that will benefit the community for years to come.

As these scholars begin their transformative work, they’re not just changing how government operates; they’re redefining what’s possible when innovation meets public service.