PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Trooper Sanders

Trooper Sanders works on artificial intelligence through public benefits, workforce policy, and state-level AI safety. He advised Michelle Obama and Al and Tipper Gore, explored the social and economic equity possibilities of artificial intelligence as a Rockefeller Foundation fellow, and ran Wise Whisper, a strategic advisory practice, before Benefits Data Trust hired him as chief executive in 2019. In April 2022 the Department of Commerce appointed him to the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, and in May 2022 he led its workforce working group. In February 2024, Benefits Data Trust and Nava, with $3 million from the Gates Foundation and Google.org, set out to discover how, and if, generative and predictive AI can make it easier for benefit navigators, and he was relieved of the chief executive role in June 2024, before the nonprofit shut down in August 2024. As of October 2026, he is president of the State AI Safety Roundtable.

Now at
State AI Safety Roundtable

Timeline

  1. By 2019

    Fellowships and White House work

    He is a native of Detroit and a graduate of the University of Michigan, and he holds a master of science from the London School of Economics and a master of laws from the University of London. Before Benefits Data Trust hires him in 2019, he advises Michelle Obama during the Obama administration and Al and Tipper Gore during the Clinton administration, explores the social and economic equity possibilities of artificial intelligence as a Rockefeller Foundation fellow, and runs Wise Whisper, a strategic advisory practice, for eight years. As the Clinton Foundation's domestic policy advisor, he helps create the Alliance for a Healthier Generation with the American Heart Association.

  2. September 2019

    Chief executive of Benefits Data Trust

    Benefits Data Trust hires him as chief executive in September 2019, and he starts on September 16. The nonprofit helps people receive benefits by using data and technology, and he leads a team of 170-plus employees.

  3. April 2022–May 2022

    Advising the president on AI

    The Department of Commerce appoints him in April 2022 to the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, listed with Benefits Data Trust, to advise the president and the National AI Initiative Office. The National AI Initiative Act of 2020 directs the committee to recommend on the current state of U.S. AI competitiveness, the state of science around AI, and AI workforce issues. In May 2022 he leads the Supporting the U.S. Workforce and Providing Opportunity working group.

  4. February 2024

    AI tools for navigators

    In February 2024, Benefits Data Trust and Nava, with $3 million from the Gates Foundation and Google.org, set out to discover how, and if, generative and predictive AI can make it easier for benefit navigators. He says Benefits Data Trust is committed to eliminating the barriers that keep eligible people from public benefit programs, and that the collaboration with Nava will carefully design, implement, and test a way in which AI can be brought to bear on this problem.

  5. June 2024–August 2024

    Leaving Benefits Data Trust

    He is relieved of his duties as chief executive in early June 2024, before the board decides to shut Benefits Data Trust down. As of August 24, 2024, the nonprofit lays off all 273 employees and shuts down its call center.

  6. As of October 2026

    President of a safety roundtable

    He is president of the State AI Safety Roundtable, a nonprofit supporting civil society, government leaders, and allies in advancing AI safety at the state level. In April 2026 he writes that the best hope for progress on making AI safe, and on holding those who develop and deploy it to account, lies with the states.

Sources and credits

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  1. Meet Trooper Sanders, Benefits Data Trust's new CEO generocity.org. Checked 16 October 2026.
  2. Trooper Sanders - Titan - Philadelphia, PA philadelphia.thetitan100.com. Checked 16 October 2026.
  3. Power Moves: Benefits Data Trust Found its Next CEO in a Former Obama Staffer philadelphia.citybuzz.co. Checked 16 October 2026.
  4. U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints 27 Members to National AI Advisory Committee nist.gov. Checked 16 October 2026.
  5. National AI Advisory Committee establishes 5 working groups fedscoop.com. Checked 16 October 2026.
  6. Nava and Benefits Data Trust partner to explore how AI can support public benefit navigators navapbc.com. Checked 16 October 2026.
  7. A nonprofit's abrupt closure puts access to public benefits at risk route-fifty.com. Checked 16 October 2026.
  8. Philly's Benefits Data Trust shutters after 20 years. Laid-off workers say they still want answers whyy.org. Checked 16 October 2026.
  9. States are the Stewards of the People's Trust in AI techpolicy.press. Checked 16 October 2026.
  10. Trooper Sanders, Author at TechPolicy.Press techpolicy.press. Checked 16 October 2026.