Steven Ferguson is a distinguished leader with over 28 years of experience in the technology, manufacturing, higher education, and workforce development sectors. He currently serves as a Principal Research Scientist and Managing Director of Georgia AIM (Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing) at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also the Interim Director of Operations for the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI) and Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium. In these roles, Steven leads national initiatives that bring together industry, government, and academia to advance AI-driven manufacturing and workforce innovation.

Steven has played a central role in securing and managing more than $100 million in competitive federal, state, and private funding for technology, research, and workforce programs. At Georgia Tech, he helps guide the expansion of the Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility, oversees programs that integrate AI into manufacturing, and builds partnerships that translate research into practice. Through Georgia AIM, he co-leads efforts that have resulted in over $65 million of investment in statewide projects supporting faculty research, workforce training, and industry engagement.

Previously, Steven dedicated 23 years to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), where he rose to Chief Information Officer. His tenure included architecting the statewide eCampus platform, pioneering the GEORGIA MATCH program, the nation’s largest direct-to-college admissions initiative, and launching the first micro-credentialing effort for a 2-year college system. These initiatives expanded educational access across Georgia and established new national models for student success and workforce readiness.

Steven’s innovative contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including Georgia Titan 100 Honoree in 2024 and 2022, Technology Leader of the Year in 2021, and Georgia CIO of the Year in 2019. His digital transformation projects have also been honored with multiple Georgia IT Innovation Showcase Awards.

He holds an M.S. in Information Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University, a B.S. in Information Technology from Columbia Southern University, and an A.S. in Engineering from Gainesville State College. He is also a graduate of TCSG’s Executive Leadership Academy.

Beyond his professional roles, Steven serves on the AI Advisory Council for the State of Georgia and is active in the community. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and volunteers with nonprofit and educational organizations that strengthen Georgia’s innovation ecosystem.