Leadership Exodus in the CDAO: Implications for Defense AI Initiatives

Recent months have witnessed a significant departure of senior leaders and key technical staff from the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). This trend has raised concerns among stakeholders about the future efficacy of the organization, which plays a crucial role in modernizing the Department of Defense (DoD) through advanced technologies.

Context of Departures

According to multiple sources within the government, the CDAO’s future remains uncertain, prompting speculation about its structure and mission. This comes at a time when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasizes the necessity of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into defense strategies. An effective and motivated CDAO team is critical to realizing these goals.

• CDAO’s History: Established in 2022 under the Biden administration, the CDAO resulted from the amalgamation of four tech-centric offices: the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), Defense Digital Service (DDS), Office of the Chief Data Officer, and the Advana program.

• Leadership Changes: Craig Martell, a commercial technology executive, initially headed the office until his resignation early this year. Radha Plumb succeeded him, serving until January 2025, before Douglas Matty assumed leadership under the Trump administration. His leadership begins amid various initiatives focused on enhancing data analytics, automation, machine learning, and next-gen AI capabilities.

Ongoing Challenges

Matty’s appointment coincides with growing anxieties regarding the CDAO’s long-term strategic relevance within the DoD. There are ongoing discussions among government officials about potential consolidation of the CDAO with other organizations, such as the Defense Innovation Unit. Furthermore, the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is driving efforts to streamline operations, aiming to eliminate what it perceives as unnecessary expenditures and reduce workforce size.

Notable Departures

The gravity of the situation is underscored by the departure of prominent officials, including:

• Garrett Berntsen, former Deputy for Mission Analytics
• Bonnie Evangelista, former Acting Deputy for Acquisitions and Assurance
• Jock Padgett, former Deputy for Advanced C2 Acceleration
• Matt Strohmeyer, former lead for Global Information Dominance Experiments
• Jennifer Hay, former Director of Defense Digital Service

Positions crucial to CDAO operations remain unfilled, further complicating the office’s functionality during a period of transformation and transition.

Organizational Crisis?

The continuous exit of experienced personnel suggests a possible crisis within the CDAO. As reported, officials have indicated these departures could be the result of both voluntary and involuntary reductions related to the Trump administration’s workforce optimization initiatives. In recent discussions, DOGE representatives have reached out to former and current CDAO staff for feedback on leadership and organizational challenges.

A spokesperson from the CDAO declined to comment specifically on these departures but reaffirmed the office’s mission to support the DoD in enhancing operational efficiency while delivering capabilities necessary to maintain U.S. military lethality.

Employment Trends

The DoD’s recent recruitment drives, including the Deferred Resignation Program, reflect an ongoing timeframe of employee transitions. For example:

• Approximately 22,000 employees participated in the initial round of the OPM DRP.
• A follow-up round saw additional opportunities for voluntarily separating employees during a targeted period.

Looking Forward

As Matty prepares to testify before Congress on the Pentagon’s current IT and AI landscape, the stakes are high. His leadership will be pivotal in navigating the challenges that the CDAO faces, from talent retention to mission clarity, particularly as AI becomes indispensable for national security.

The need for robust leadership in the CDAO cannot be overstated, especially as the landscape of defense technology evolves rapidly. The outcomes of the current transitions could have lasting implications for how the U.S. military leverages digital technology and artificial intelligence in future operations.