Richard Threlkeld, PhD
CEORichard Threlkeld, PhD has over a decade of experience with research and development in operations, academics, defense contractors, and commercial entities. He served as a captain in both active and reserve components of the United States Army. After active duty, he continued to serve the Department of Defense in academia working as a principal investigator for multiple defense projects with DTRA, JPEO, SCO, and the Army. He also has experience as a principal investigator and chief architect working for traditional defense contractors on multiple DoD and digital enterprise projects. In addition, he also has led commercial and government research covering a wide range of technologies including digital twins, model based engineering, position, navigation, and timing, power electronics, robotics, autonomy, quantum, artificial intelligence, and harsh environment electronics.
Lirim Ashiku, PhD
CTOLirim Ashiku, PhD, brings over a decade of experience as a software engineer, along with nearly five years of teaching in the areas of neural networks, deep learning, and digital engineering. His research focuses on organ allocation and tissue authorization, where he has been active for nearly four years. Lirim has developed sophisticated deceased donor kidney allocation models aimed at identifying high-risk kidneys, as well as a model that matches deceased donors with potential transplant recipients. Utilizing a deep learning approach, he has also discovered patterns that enhance tissue authorizations, incorporating natural language processing to improve the contextual understanding of unlabeled text in communications between donation coordinators and next of kin. This approach has led to more effective communication throughout various stages of the process, and, when combined with demographic data, has facilitated the prediction of tissue authorization probabilities. Lirim holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, an M.S. in Software Engineering, and a PhD in Systems Engineering.
Whitney Threlkeld, OTR/L
COOPrior to her start with Valiant AI, Whitney worked in the healthcare field for more than 10 years. First, serving the community as a Registered Nurse, then as an Occupational Therapist. Whitney holds a Bachelor of Art in Psychology from Florida Gulf Coast University and her Master's in Occupational Therapy from the University of Florida. The bulk of her career has focus on the rehabilitation of a multitude of clients in Level One Trauma Hospitals. Whitney has also received her Certificate in Project Management through Syracuse University.
