Zach Curtis
Vice President of AI Innovation, Fed/Civ, Koniag Government Services, LLC
Zach Curtis spearheaded transformative AI initiatives across KGS and federal customers, most notably leading the Small Business Administration’s registration experience modernization and achieving a 40% AWS cost reduction, delivering nearly $5 million in annual savings. He architected and deployed enterprisewide agentic AI capabilities that provide thousands of KGS employees with secure access to generative AI resources, enabling significant productivity gains while safeguarding proprietary information.
Curtis also played a significant role in positioning KGS as the first Alaska Native Corporation to achieve AWS AI Competency and establishing comprehensive AI governance policies and usage frameworks.
KGS is aggressively aligning with the current administration’s mandate for a more efficient government by deploying cutting-edge AI and automation technologies to streamline federal operations.
For example, the Army Contracting Enterprise is saving 687,000 hours per year through AI and automation tools KGS developed for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement. These savings represent approximately $37 million in annual cost avoidance.
Continually working to reduce Procurement Acquisition Lead Time — the interval from solicitation to award — directly contributes to the Army’s goal of delivering capabilities to soldiers faster. The team’s achievements were recognized with the 2026 ACT-IAC Innovation Impact Award, selected from over 120 submissions across the federal sector and presented jointly to KGS wholly owned subsidiary Tuknik Government Services, LLC and ODASA(P).
“Zach Curtis exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation-first mindset that are foundational to KGS culture,” said Kevin Wideman, KGS CEO. “His commitment to responsible innovation and proven track record of delivering enterprise-scale AI solutions that enhance mission capabilities and reduce costs help position KGS as a leader in AI for Government service delivery. People like Zach make us better every day and inspire the next generation of innovators across our company.”
Why Watch
In 2026, Curtis and his team are working on the next evolution of enterprise AI by developing multi-agent Kanban teams and self-improving AI platforms enhanced with organization-specific skills and the latest AI technologies. His team is also enhancing cybersecurity operations by using AI to remediate vulnerabilities much faster while strengthening the security posture for both KGS and federal government customers. Curtis’ innovative approach to AI maturity and governance positions him at the forefront of practical, mission-critical AI implementation in the federal sector.
“We were early adopters of Generative AI for internal use at KGS,” Curtis said. “This experience and the valuable lessons learned directly benefitted our Government customers, enabling us to provide innovative and transformative solutions for Federal Agencies to enhance their mission capabilities while realizing cost savings. It is gratifying and rewarding to deliver on the promise of AI with solutions that fundamentally improve how Government serves the American people while protecting taxpayer investments.”
Fun fact: Curtis is an avid boater and angler who spends every possible moment on the water. He and his wife of 22 years have known each other since preschool and now share their love of maritime adventures from their southwest Florida home, exploring destinations from the Bahamas to the Florida Keys.
