Lisa Einstein Named CISA’s First Chief AI Officer

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) appointed Lisa Einstein as its first chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO). She previously led CISA’s AI efforts as senior advisor for AI and as the executive director of the CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee.

“I care deeply about CISA’s mission — if we succeed, the critical systems that Americans rely on every day will become safer, more reliable and more capable. AI tools could accelerate our progress. But we will only reap their benefits and avoid harms from their misapplication or abuse if we all work together to prioritize safety, security and trustworthiness in the development and deployment of AI tools,” Einstein said in a press release Thursday.

“It has been a privilege to work with the dedicated and talented CISA team and with our partners across the United States and around the world over the last two years,” said Einstein. “I am honored to serve in this new role to help CISA tackle this important challenge.”

CISA Director Jen Easterly paralleled Einstein’s appointment with the agency’s commitment to using responsible AI to advance cybersecurity and defend critical infrastructure.

“Beyond her technical expertise, she’s an inspirational leader who has brought together colleagues across the agency around a clear and impactful vision. I could not be more thrilled to have her take on this important new role, which will help us continue to build AI expertise into the fabric of our agency and ensure we are equipped to effectively leverage the power of AI well into the future,” said Easterly.

Einstein was also the first dual master’s degree recipient in computer science  and international policy (cyber policy and security specialization) at Stanford University. She led H.R. McMaster’s research team at Stanford on emerging technologies and geopolitics and conducted research on trust and safety engineering, AI-augmented education and algorithmic decision support tools for humanitarian evacuations.