The Future of AI at the Defense Department

Wed, 07/17/2024

The Future of AI for National Security Deep Dive cover

To maintain its competitive edge, the Defense Department is exploring artificial intelligence across the enterprise. DOD is using AI to enhance its mission via better data use, decision advantage and furthering Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control.

Learn more about:

The Defense Department’s artificial intelligence adoption strategic goals.
What’s next in Pentagon’s emerging tech plans.
The Navy’s AI-enabled unmanned fleet.

Download the Deep Dive PDF

Featuring

Amanda Bullock AI Lead, Air Force Research Laboratory
Amanda Bullock
- AI Lead
- Air Force Research Laboratory
Dr. Amanda Bullock is an experienced Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lead at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), where she spearheads digital transformation and modernization initiatives in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics. With a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Science in Applied Statistics from Wright State University, Amanda brings a robust foundation in statistical analysis to her work. She earned her PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in 2013, specializing in Statistical Signal Processing.

Following her postdoctoral work in Non-Destructive Evaluation and Non-GPS navigation, Amanda taught mathematics, biostatistics, statistics, signal processing, and data science at Wright State University, Central State University, and AFIT. Her academic tenure included a prestigious Fellowship at the Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, where she contributed to research in the Survivability and Lethality Analysis Directorate, further solidifying her expertise in advanced analytics and AI.
In 2017, Amanda transitioned into civil service, serving as the Project Engineer for the LEGACY program, an Air Force internship initiative aimed at recruiting students in STEM. She subsequently led the Enterprise Architecture Modeling team in 2019 before becoming the AFRL Deputy Chief Data Officer in 2022.

Currently, Amanda is the AI Lead for the Digital Capabilities Directorate and the Strategic Advisor for Generative AI in AFRL, where she focuses on reducing business toil through AI, connecting AFRL, DoD, and industry AI efforts, and upskilling the workforce in AI/ML/Advanced Analytics. She has played a key role in launching some of the first experiments using Generative AI in the Department of the Air Force (DAF), and is actively involved in experimenting with and integrating commercial Generative AI tools across AFRL.

Amanda’s research interests encompass STEM education, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Signal Processing. She is passionate about leveraging her expertise in AI and analytics to drive innovation and modernization within the Air Force and beyond.
Jaime Fitzgibbon AI/ML Program Manager, Defense Innovation Unit
Jaime Fitzgibbon
- AI/ML Program Manager
- Defense Innovation Unit
Ms. Fitzgibbon serves as a Program Manager for the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) portfolio. She runs AI-centered prototypes of commercially proven solutions with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Intelligence Community (IC) mission users to accelerate emerging technology adoption for operational needs. Ms. Fitzgibbon also serves as DIU’s Liaison Officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Prior to joining DIU, Ms. Fitzgibbon’s experience spanned leadership roles across senior product management, program management, and customer success as well as technology scouting across Silicon Valley, DC and Europe. She has coached start-ups on product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, pricing models and product scaling within the US (commercial and government deployments). In addition to Ms. Fitzgibbon’s private sector experience, she served as a Deputy Director within the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) at the Department of State, African policy lead within the United States Senate and a High School French Teacher. She holds both a Master’s of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in French Education.
Angel Phaneuf CISO, Army Software Factory
Angel Phaneuf
- CISO
- Army Software Factory
Angelica (Angel) Phaneuf is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the Army Software Factory (ASF). Prior to the Army, Angel was the Director of Security Engineering at Kessel Run and built and ran the innovative security program under the Air Force. Angel has a husband and two kids and resides in the Greater Boston area.
William Streilein CTO, Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, DOD
William Streilein
- CTO
- Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, DOD
Dr. William W. Streilein is the Chief Technology Officer for the Chief Digital and AI Office of the DoD, providing strategic awareness, direction and leadership for enterprise scale data, analytical and AI capabilities.

Prior to his current role, William worked at MIT Lincoln Laboratory where he served as principal staff in the Biotechnology and Human Systems Division. He supported efforts across the division focusing on concept, strategy, and program development in bioengineering, bioinformatics, and biodefense and leveraged his technical and leadership experience to emphasize the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to solve national biosecurity, health, and human performance challenges. William was also the leader of the Cyber Analytics and Decisions Group, where his research interests focused on cyber security, passive network and traffic analysis, streaming analytics, and computer vision. Prior to MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Streilein spent nine years working as a software engineer within the private sector.

He serves as a chair of the Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Security (AICS) and Robust Artificial Intelligence Systems Assurance (RAISA) academic workshops and is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and an active member of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). William is a recognized leader in areas such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and statistical analysis.

Dr. Streilein holds a BA degree in mathematics from Austin College, an MM degree in electronic and computer music from the University of Miami, and a PhD degree in cognitive and neural systems from Boston University. He is a senior member of the IEEE. He has been at Lincoln Laboratory since 1998.
Rear Adm. Stephen Tedford Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, U.S. Navy
Rear Adm. Stephen Tedford
- Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons
- U.S. Navy
Christopher Yates Principal Chief Architect, Red Hat
Christopher Yates
- Principal Chief Architect
- Red Hat
Christopher Yates is a Chief Architect at Red Hat. He has worked extensively within the federal public sector across the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), civilian sector, and with systems integrators for over a decade. Prior to working in the public sector, Mr. Yates worked in the commercial industry as a software engineer in the financial and healthcare sectors.