Fissionaire

Personal Experience & Biography

Karen Sessions is a nationally recognized public policy executive and technology strategist with over 30 years of leadership across federal agencies, global telecommunications, and large-scale public–private infrastructure. She currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where she leads high-impact initiatives.

Her career includes senior roles shaping broadband expansion, digital inclusion, international development, AI innovation, and next-generation communications networks. Karen has led major legislative portfolios, overseen complex regulatory environments, guided cutting-edge AI and data-driven technologies, and built durable partnerships across government, industry, and global institutions.

Leadership Strengths

Led congressional affairs, appropriations strategy, and global public affairs for the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation, stewarding multi-billion-dollar international development investments.
Former CEO of EdgePresence, directing the expansion of micro-data centers and digital-inclusion infrastructure in underserved U.S. markets.
Senior Vice President at ExteNet Systems, contributing to national-scale deployment of secure 5G and fiber networks.
Oversaw AI policy development and global implementation strategy as Senior Vice President at AI Data Holdings, including stewardship of patented deep-learning technologies.
Held senior leadership roles during 23-year tenure with Verizon, directing public policy across Smart Cities, cybersecurity, transportation, energy, and emerging communications technologies.
Elected City Commissioner and Vice Mayor of Winter Park, providing executive-level municipal leadership and oversight of city-wide public initiatives.
Co-founded the Diebel Legacy Fund, serving medically uninsured women and children, and serves on multiple nonprofit boards advancing healthcare access and equity.

Regulatory Guide

Directed policy, authorization, appropriations, and interagency coordination for MCC’s international programs spanning economic growth, poverty reduction, and foreign institutional reform.
Senior architect of regulatory frameworks supporting 5G, broadband expansion, cybersecurity, and next-generation communications infrastructure.
Managed federal, state, and international regulatory engagement across AI governance, advanced telecom, and digital-infrastructure deployment.
Oversaw complex compliance portfolios involving Smart Cities, IoT/M2M systems, sustainability, transportation, and healthcare technologies at Verizon.
Recognized expert in public-private partnership governance, regulatory modernization, and federal communication-policy implementation.

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KAREN SESSIONS

Personal Experience & Biography

Leadership Strengths

Regulatory Guide

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