She’s helped lead the U.S. military into the era of AI. From the Pentagon to the White House, Eileen Vidrine has spent her career transforming how government and defense organizations use data to drive mission success. If you're serious about making AI work at scale, this keynote is one you can't afford to miss.
Join us at DataConnect 2025 this October as Eileen takes the stage to share hard-earned lessons from decades in national security and federal tech leadership. As the former Chief Data & AI Officer for the U.S. Department of the Air Force, she’s built some of the most impactful data strategies in the country - designed for action, accountability, and real-world outcomes.
Our theme this year is Fueling AI: The Critical Role of High-Quality Data. Because at the highest levels, it’s not just about algorithms - it’s about trust, readiness, and results. Eileen will show you how to build the kind of data foundation that can power critical decisions and lasting innovation.
Eileen M. Vidrine is a distinguished national security leader and U.S. Army veteran with over 35 years of experience driving data strategy, digital transformation, and ethical AI across defense and intelligence agencies. As the former Department of the Air Force Chief Data & Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO), she spearheaded enterprise-wide initiatives to bolster AI readiness, workforce upskilling, and mission effectiveness—returning in 2023 following a detail as Senior Strategic Advisor for Data to the Federal CIO at the Office of Management and Budget. A transformative mentor, she has built high-performing teams, championed responsible AI governance, and earned accolades such as AIM’s AI 100 Visionary Leader, CDO Magazine’s 2023 Executive of the Year, and the 2024 DataIQ Lifetime Achievement Award. Eileen continues to inspire as Founder of Vidrine Vantage LLC and serves on advisory boards—most recently the FedLearn board—and the BlackHat AI Security Council.