As we pass the line over the autumn equinox, it’s once again time to name our annual RealLIST Engineers. This year felt like a particularly tech-y one, with the boom of generative AI, quantum creeping more and more into the conversation, the completion of Amazon HQ2’s first stage and other major developments. So when we set out to compile a list, we were on the hunt not only for some tech titans, but also the folks making the products we didn’t even know we needed. You know, the people building the things we can barely understand and the ones taking a step back to say that existing technology needs to be reevaluated — and finding a way to make it better.
This list highlights developers, engineers and scholars with impressive technical aptitude, community leadership and collaborative practices all in one package. It was compiled from a whole slew of community nominations and our own past reporting, with the final honorees set by lead DC reporter Michaela Althouse and market editor Sameer Rao (unfortunately, we have not yet figured out how to build our own Goblet of Fire to help with the selection process. Maybe next year.).
With that, I present to you your 2023 RealLIST Engineers. Wear the crown proud, y’all.
Michael Akinwumi, chief tech equity officer, National Fair Housing Alliance
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Michael Akinwumi. (Courtesy Michael Akinwumi)
Before coming to his current employer, Akinwumi spent almost a decade working in roles in data science, machine learning and risk management. Now, he conducts research and testing to remove bias in AI and generative AI for the housing sphere — and make sure that folks involved are building responsible AI and algorithms. In June, he organized the organization’s first Tech Equity Hackathon.
Terry Bazemore, cofounder and COO, Ey3 Technologies
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Terry Bazemore. (Courtesy Terry Bazemore)
While he initially saw himself in the graphic design world, Bazemore entered the cyber sector through the University of Maryland. Since then, he’s been in the leadership development program at Lockheed Martin, a senior security engineer at Securion, a computer network operations tester at Caci International and a principal cyber test engineer for CNF Technologies. In 2020, he cofounded Ey3 Technologies, a cybersecurity and systems engineering consulting group in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Aneesh Chopra, president, CareJourney
In addition to CareJourney, an open-data service for providers, Chopra is the cofounder of Hunch Analytics, CareJourney’s parent company. But before that, he was the first ever CTO of the US during the Obama administration and the fourth Secretary of Technology of Virginia. His work helps build private, public and government partnerships in the technology and regulatory spaces, and he’s the author of “Innovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government.”
“Aneesh is a fierce advocate and national leader in improving the healthcare system through regulatory and technology transformation leadership,” his nominator wrote.
Neil Cohen, CTO and chief architect, Hushmesh
At Hushmesh, Cohen is leading the development of the company’s “Mesh” product, which is a secure internet space that includes automated and encrypted security for safe internet use. His nominator called him one of the most talented, multifaceted and creative architects and developers they’ve ever met — which is why it’s no surprise to learn that his career includes stints at AOL, Venmo, Capital One and Flowcode.
“Neil is also incredibly easy to work with,” his nominator wrote. “He has no attitude, he is patient and thoughtful, he leads by example, and he inspires trust and confidence across the team. He takes conceptual ideas and translates them into scalable infrastructure. He makes us all feel like we can achieve anything, and thanks to him, we likely will.”
David Cusatis, cofounder and CTO, Range
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David Cusatis. (Courtesy David Cusatis)
Cusatis cofounded Range with Fahad Hassan in late 2020, and the fintech company has already raised $12 million thanks to Google’s AI-focused VC fund Gradient Ventures. Before moving to the startup world, he held roles at power players Amazon, IBM and Twitch.
Paul Flynn, senior software engineer, Virtru
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Paul Flynn. (Courtesy Paul Flynn)
Among his accolades, Flynn has the bragging rights of spending a decade working for eBay and helping build the Obamacare websites. Now, he develops and manages the data encryption and privacy-enhancing products for Virtru. But he’s also working on building a “social media platform in a box” known as Arkavo to help developers build decentralized social media.
“The issue of personal data privacy and security within social media platforms has become increasingly relevant recently, and developers such as Paul working to tackle these issues embody what it means to be innovative and impactful developers,” his nominator wrote.
Connor Hart, scientist, University of Maryland (UMD) Quantum Technology Center
Hart, an alum of UMD and the Harvard Physics Department, researches developing quantum sensors and works closely with both government and industry partners. With that collaboration, he’s working on real-world applications for quantum computing, his nominator said. He’s also the CTO and principal quantum scientist at Quantum Catalyzer.
Taylor Heitman, software engineer II, Appian
At Appian, Heitman leads the 11-person records insights team, where she’s the architect of the company’s Data Fabric capability. She spearheads the designs, leads spikes and grooming and does numerous code reviews, her nominator said. Plus, she’s a member of the intern committee, coordinating the company’s (count ‘em) 39 interns that arrive each summer.
Darsana Josyula, professor/director, Bowie State University
On top of her teaching schedule, Josyula is the director of the Autonomous Technologies Lab at Bowie State and a founding member of the Climate Commitment Coordinating Committee. She also works with the Active Logic, Metacognitive Computation, and Mind Group at UMD’s Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and the Cognitive Informatics & Cognitive Computing Lab at Universidad de Córdoba.
Anastassia Kornilova, director of machine learning engineering, Trustible
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Anastassia Kornilova. (Courtesy Anastassia Kornilova)
Before starting at Trustible, Kornilova spent several years at FiscalNote and Snorkel AI. At Trustible, her nominator said she was the company’s first and most critical employee, leveling up on full-stack web development, writing guidelines for the company’s front-end work and leading product and strategy and product initiatives. Her nominator said that in her spare time, she also mentors high schoolers and other women interested in data science and machine learning.
“Anastassia is a rockstar engineer and jack-of-all-trades,” her nominator wrote.
Dan McQuade, CTO, Adlumin
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Dan McQuade. (Courtesy Adlumin)
Before coming to Adlumin, McQuade cofounded The Ballydesmond Company, which exited in 2017. That same year, he joined Adlumin as one of its founding engineers and was vital in building the cybersecurity company’s tech platform. The Georgetown alum earned two patents in his work with Adlumin, oversaw all aspects of the company’s cloud infrastructure and managed the deployment of its security operations platform. His work was also key in the company landing a slot on this year’s Inc. 5000 list.
Danda Rawat, professor/director, Howard University
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Danda Rawat. (Courtesy Danda Rawat)
At Howard, Rawat is a cybersecurity professor and founding director of Howard’s Data Science and Cybersecurity Center. He’s also done plenty of work in the government tech space, landing him honors such as the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2016 and the Department of Homeland Security Scientific Leadership Award in 2017. Earlier this year, he was also tapped to be the executive director and principal contract investigator for Howard’s new University Affiliated Research Center, funded through a $90 million contract with the Department of Defense.
Doguhan Uluca, principal fellow, Excella
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Doguhan Uluca. (Courtesy Doguhan Uluca)
At Excella, Uluca leads strategic tech initiatives for the company and works directly with clients including the IRS and Harvard University to help with modernization. He most recently worked with Homeland Security Investigations, implementing a high-impact system in a serverless configuration. He’s also the founder of the Tech Talk DC meetup, an author and was named a Google Developers Expert in 2019 by Google.
“As a craftsman, he has a genuine passion for sharing information, best practices and contributing to the open source community,” his nominator wrote. “Doguhan is the ultimate team player, consistently growing new technical leaders, coaching and mentoring not only his fellow Excellians but people in the tech community as a whole.”
Paloma Vilceus, cofounder, Yellow Tail Tech
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Paloma Vilceus. (Courtesy Paloma Vilceus)
Vilceus’ accolades include being a Linux system engineer at LCG and principal infrastructure engineer at Sony. In 2021, she cofounded Silver Sping’s Yellow Tail Tech, which landed at #452 on this year’s Inc. 5000 list. In her spare time, she teaches girls how to code at her daughter’s elementary school.
Gary Wang, CTO, DMI
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Gary Wang. (Courtesy Gary Wang)
The newly appointed CTO has had a long career leading up to this role. After starting his professional journey at the National Cancer Institute, he moved on to roles such as CTO in Lockheed Martin’s Treasury Department IT services contract, CTO of IBM’s cybersecurity and development practice, and leadership gigs at SAIC, Unisys, Peraton and more. His bragging rights include bumping his department’s new business at Unisys to $1.9 billion and saving a contract in the Treasury Department program at Lockheed.
