Kylie Gaskins
Department of Commerce
2022 fellow
Chemical engineer, innovative process improver, and employee engagement enthusiast. Ms. Gaskins is an accomplished professional with diverse experience in the domestic and international sectors. She has over 20 years of experience in a variety of disciplines, including chemical manufacturing, research and development, program management, semiconductor fabrication, environmental remediation, ballistic missile acquisition, foreign policy, and export control.
In her most recent role at the Department of Commerce, Ms. Gaskins led numerous employee engagement efforts, including the implementation of a unique performance award program. In 2021 she spearheaded a Peer-to-Peer Recognition initiative, which allowed employees to acknowledge the accomplishments of their coworkers through cash awards. This program was an outcome of an Employee Engagement Focus Group led by Ms. Gaskins; and resulted in a 52% increase in the Bureau’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey ranking for the Best Place to Work in the Federal Government.
Ms. Gaskins also authored a licensing policy, which promoted the export of the COVID-19 vaccine and items necessary for COVID-19 testing. This policy was implemented in sanctioned countries, including Syria and Iran. She collaborated with interagency partners to issue government-wide authorizations and formulated public guidance to support the White House initiative for global COVID-19 relief.
Her accolades include the Director’s Awards for outstanding teamwork with the Department of Homeland Security’s export investigative unit and for granting agents remote access to intelligence reports for criminal investigations.
Ms. Gaskins has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland and an MS in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Tech.
As a WHLDP Fellow in the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, she will bring positive energy, innovative perspectives, and data-driven approaches to address complex science and technology policy issues.
