Joda Thongnopnua

Joda Thongnopnua serves as Special Advisor for the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP), a new directorate created by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. There, he leads interagency engagement and strategic initiatives for NSF TIP to strengthen and expand U.S. science and technology leadership and innovation output. Since joining NSF in 2023, he has helped launch new federal investment programs to catalyze new innovation clusters across the U.S. and accelerate frontier technology development.

Previously, Thongnopnua served as chief of staff to Chattanooga, Tennessee Mayor Tim Kelly. He was Mayor Kelly’s top aide and principal advisor and was chiefly responsible for implementing the mayor’s agenda and leading major policy priorities across a 2,600-person organization and $350 million annual budget. Prior to government service, Thongnopnua held leadership roles at non-profits, philanthropy, and the private sector. In 2018, he also served as the Democratic nominee for Tennessee State Representative in District 30, one of the state’s most competitive races that cycle.

Thongnopnua is currently a J.D. candidate, a Blume Public Interest Scholar, and Technology Law & Policy Scholar at Georgetown Law.