I solve problems through design for humans

Selected Skills

AI + UX Design (Agentic AI)

prompt engineering

User-Centered Design

Human Centered
Systems Thinking

Systems Mapping

Customer Journey Mapping

Complex App Design
(DOD workspace)

Complex User Design
(Legacy app analysis)

Emotional & Visual Design

Competitive Analysis

Generative & Evaluative Research

Wireframing & Prototyping

Usability & Preference Testing

Design Documentation & Presentation

User Personas &
Business Requirements

Mobile First & Responsive Design

Data Visualization &
Interactive Design

Information Architecture &
User Flows

Solid Understanding of Typography

Layout & Color Theory

Solid Understanding of Responsive Design

Experience in A/B Testing

Education

2025
AI for designers certification
(interaction design foundation-IDF)

how to measure ux and design impact certification
(smashing magazine with vitaly friedman)


2024
Human Centered Systems Thinking Certification (IDEO)

2023
Workshopper Master Certification (AJ&Smart)

2020

UX Fundamentals, UX Immersion (CareerFoundry)

2011

MFA in contemporary art
Washington University in St. Louis

2008
MA Painting & Drawing
Eastern Illinois University

Katy Neale - Bio

My Journey to Government AI

For four years, I served as Lead UX Designer for CAMPS Inc. 1 (Consolidated Air Mobility Placement System), a mission-critical planning application for the 618th Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base. This experience shaped my understanding of how complex government systems actually work—and more importantly, how they need to work better.

What I learned at CAMPS:

• How to navigate intricate stakeholder dynamics across military hierarchies

• The critical importance of aligning user experience with operational mission success

• How to deliver tailored solutions that enhance both effectiveness and user satisfaction

• The challenge of envisioning future application states while managing current constraints

Leading a team of UX designers (collaborating with PM’s & Solution Architects) on a system that directly impacts military mobility operations taught me that in government technology, good design isn't just about usability—it's about mission readiness.

Key CAMPS Achievements:

• Shaped the "end state" design vision for an enterprise-level military application

• Led program-wide UX research and customer feedback initiatives across 8 different military business lines

• Identified and prioritized automation opportunities that improved efficiency across multiple user bases

• Educated teams on UX best practices and the strategic value of human-centered design

• Managed complex legacy system integrations while planning for future capabilities

From Air Mobility to AI Automation

My transition from CAMPS to Vega Federal Solutions represents a natural evolution: applying systems thinking and government UX expertise to the next frontier of military and intelligence operations—AI automation.

The skills that made me effective at CAMPS—understanding complex workflows, managing diverse stakeholders, designing within operational constraints—are exactly what government AI needs. But AI introduces new challenges: How do you build trust in automated decisions? How do you keep humans meaningfully engaged? How do you design for mission-critical reliability?

My Government Technology Philosophy:

• Mission-First Design: Every design decision must enhance operational capability

• Human-Centered AI: Technology should amplify human judgment, not replace it

• Systems Thinking: Solutions must work within existing organizational and technical ecosystems

• Trust Through Transparency: Users trust what they understand and can control

What I Bring to Government AI

Deep Government Experience: Four years designing for military operations gives me insider understanding of government constraints, stakeholder complexity, and mission-critical requirements.

Systems Thinking: My background in service design and complex system management helps me see beyond individual interfaces to entire organizational workflows.

Team Leadership: Experience managing UX teams and educating stakeholders on design value translates directly to building AI adoption across government organizations.

Operational Focus: My work at CAMPS taught me that the best government technology disappears into operational workflows—it doesn't disrupt missions, it enables them.

Change Management: Successfully navigating military hierarchies and diverse program priorities prepared me for the organizational challenges of AI adoption in government.

Current Focus at Vega Federal Solutions

At Vega, I apply everything I learned about government UX to the emerging challenges of AI automation in defense and intelligence operations.

I design AI systems that:

• Enhance operator judgment rather than replacing human decision-making

• Work within existing security and compliance frameworks

• Build trust through transparency and reliable performance

• Scale across different agencies and mission contexts

• Integrate seamlessly with legacy government systems

My CAMPS experience gives me credibility with government stakeholders who need to know that their AI designer understands the operational realities, security constraints, and mission-critical nature of their work.

The Future of Government AI

Government doesn't need more AI hype. It needs AI that works within operational realities—systems that enhance human capabilities while respecting the complexity and responsibility of government missions.

That's exactly what my experience has prepared me to design.

Let's Connect

I'm always interested in discussing the intersection of human-centered design and government AI automation. Whether you're a government stakeholder exploring AI adoption or a fellow designer working in complex systems, I'd love to share insights and learn from your experiences.

Currently: Senior UX Designer, Vega Federal Solutions
Previously: Lead UX Designer, CAMPS Inc. 1, 618th Air Mobility Command
Focus: Human-centered AI design for government missions