From UC Berkley to DOGE; Take a look at Akash Bobba’s educational qualifications

The Trump 2.0 administration in the United States of America has yet another Indian-born talent under its belt and it is none other than the 22-year-old Akash Bobba.
As reported by The Wired, The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by the Tesla chief and Tech Mogul Elon Musk, has appointed six young engineers to modernize government operations through technology and automation. Reportedly, the team, which is aged between 19 and 24, some barely out of college with one still a university student, includes Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran. Akash Bobba is one of them. Despite their youth, they now hold prominent roles within agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the General Services Administration (GSA).
Although concerns have emerged over their limited experience in public administration and access to sensitive data, Bobba’s credentials have already impressed the netizens.

After completing his education at West Windsor Plainsboro High School, a public school, Akash Bobba, attended the University of California, Berkeley.
Before joining DOGE, Bobba built an impressive resume that includes stints at some of the most influential companies in Silicon Valley. According to his LinkedIn account, at UC Berkeley, the 22-year-old Indian-American was part of the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MET) program, designed for future tech industry leaders.

Bobba’s academic achievements and industry experience set the stage for his transition into the high-pressure world of government technology. His remarkable coding abilities were evident even during his time at Berkeley, where he gained attention for a viral anecdote in which he rewrote an entire project from scratch overnight after a teammate accidentally deleted it just days before a major deadline.
Following his graduation from UC Berkeley, Bobba took up an investment at the Bridgewater Associates hedge fund. He previously interned for Meta and Palantir as well.
As per a report in The Telegraph, at his graduation in 2021, he urged classmates to “seek discomfort”. He said, “We live in an age where simplicity reigns supreme, where 30-second TikToks and 280-character tweets come to define our identities. This increasing willingness to simplify even the most complex narratives into sensational tidbits, perpetuates misinformation and in the process divides the communities, families, and relationships we cherish. What’s the solution, you might ask? Seek discomfort.”


As per The Wired report, Bobba now serves as an “expert” at the OPM, reporting directly to DOGE’s chief of staff, Amanda Scales, a former recruitment leader at xAI and Uber. Reports indicate he also holds an active GSA email and A-suite level clearance, granting him access to all physical spaces and IT systems within the agency.
The level of access granted to Bobba and his peers has sparked intense debate. While supporters argue that fresh perspectives and technological expertise are needed to modernize government systems, detractors caution that young engineers, with limited professional experience, may not be fully prepared for the weight of responsibility entrusted to them. The decision to grant such access has been described by some as a high-stakes gamble.
However, after Bobba’s inclusion in Doge was made public, several previous Berkeley students praised him, calling him “one of the smartest dudes I’ve ever met”.