Business
Distinguished guest David Spirk, Chief Data Office of the Department of Defense, joins the podcast to discuss how the CDO role is being used to accelerate AI adoption in the government.During their conversation they discuss some of the challenges in transforming an organization from data informed to data led, the role that the CDO plays in driving substantive change throughout an organization, what function he envisions AI will play in five years, and more topics.Dave was appointed as the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Chief Data Officer (CDO) in June 2020. In this role, he is responsible for standing up the DoD’s Data Office and driving a strong focus on warfighter needs, data governance, and a data-ready workforce to create a strong data culture across the department.Prior to his appointment as the CDO for the department, he held a number of high-profile leadership roles in the development of data and AI strategies as well as implementation at US Special Operations Command, US Special Operation Forces, Secretary of Air Force Office. He also held senior-level positions in leading intelligence operations at US Central Command and other places.Dave is a former Marine who served across echelons at various east coast elements setting the stage for many deployments throughout the Balkans, Africa, and South Asia. As a member of Task Force-58, more specifically the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), he participated in the seizure of Kandahar Airfield and the reopening of the American Embassy in Kabul. Following his time in Afghanistan, Dave received orders to USSOUTHCOM where he deployed to Colombia numerous times and held various analytic/targeting positions before receiving an honorable discharge.