In April, the Defense Department hired a former computer science professor and head of machine learning for Lyft to elevate digital and artificial intelligence strategy development and policy formulation.
As chief digital and artificial intelligence officer, Craig Martell is responsible for accelerating the adoption of data, analytics, digital solutions, and AI functions. But shifting the largest agency in the federal government toward a data-driven future is a tall order. “Such a task will require a skilled leader and will require a lot of people to be convinced of the value of what DoD is trying to achieve,” Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks said.
“I think leadership is incredibly important,” Hicks said. “And the ways in which leadership speaks, use their time, drive the system, hold people accountable — will be very important here. The secretary and I are ready to be at the forefront of that, to be part of that change, and to help Dr. Martell do the same, along with the team and CDAO.”