The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) announced today new leadership hires put in place to lead the organizations efforts to accelerate the DoD’s adoption of data, analytics, and AI. The team is comprised of experienced experts and leaders, with key experience driving technical excellence across the joint force and interagency.
“After less than two years, the CDAO has established critical foundations in enterprise data infrastructure, analytics and AI enablement. To build on that foundation it is critical to have the right leaders so we can hit the ground running and begin working together to collaborate and innovate for the DoD,” said Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Dr. Radha Plumb. “I am excited to announce these additions to our tremendous leadership team.”
The CDAO leadership new hires consists of:
- DCDAO for Mission Analytics: Garrett Berntsen
- DCDAO for Enterprise Platforms and Services: Eugene Kuznetsov
- DCDAO for Advanced C2 Acceleration: Jock Padgett
- Executive Director: Christopher Skaluba
Garrett Berntsen joins the CDAO having previously served as the State Department’s first Deputy Chief Data and AI Officer, where he was responsible for standing up the State Department’s Center for Analytics. Additionally, he served as a Director for Technology and National Security on the National Security Council (NSC), during which he supported the development Executive Order 14110 on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. His background will help build and expand CDAO analytics efforts to support both warfighting and business functions.
Eugene Kuznetsov is joining the CDAO from Naval Special Warfare where he serves as the Command Technology Officer. His technical background, executive experience and knowledge of warfighter needs will ensure our data infrastructure, AI enablement and autonomy support deliver on these urgent warfighter requirements.
Jock Padgett joins the CDAO from U.S. Army XVIII Airborne Corps where he served as the Chief Technology Officer. His experience as an operator and then as a DoD Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) through events in Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as technical experience delivering modern C2 capability for our solders, will be critical in accelerating progress in Advance C2 capabilities along with key mission needs.
Christopher Skaluba joins the CDAO from the Atlantic Council where he served as the Director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative. His extensive experience working with think tanks, academia, industry, and international partners as well as his previous executive experience in the DoD brings significant acumen to our leadership team in strategic thinking, coalition building, defense and foreign policy, and driving change.
Plumb continued, “As CDAO’s senior leadership team, we will collaborate to lead the development and oversight of policies and tools to enable the responsible adoption of data, analytics, and AI capabilities across the force, at scale and speed, to meet the warfighters emergent requirements. I look forward to this opportunity and to working with this talented group of experts.”
The CDAO became operational in June 2022 and is dedicated to integrating and optimizing artificial intelligence capabilities across the DoD. The office is responsible for accelerating the DoD’s adoption of data, analytics, and AI, enabling the Department’s digital infrastructure and policy adoption to deliver scalable AI-driven solutions for enterprise and joint use cases, safeguarding the nation against current and emerging threats.
Source: Department of Defense Chief Digital and AI Officer Announces New Leadership Hire, May 22, 2024, DOD CDAO.
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