Chandra Donelson

Chandra Donelson is the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) for the U.S. Space Force. In this role, Donelson oversees data and artificial intelligence and is responsible for establishing comprehensive policies, frameworks, and standards for data acquisition, storage, processing, and security, ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory, and mission-critical requirements to enhance decision-making and operational effectiveness across the Space Force.

Donelson previously served as the Acting CDAO of the U.S. Air Force and was Space Data and AI Officer for the Space Force. Prior, she served as the Deputy Chief Data Officer, G-2 at Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA). She also was previously an OSINT Data Manager for the G2, where she led HQDA G-2 and Defense Intelligence Mission Area (DIMA) Information Management/Information Technology (IM/IT) portfolio modernization efforts. She earlier served as a Data and Analytics Officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Donelson earned her MBA, Information Technology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Data Science & Analytics from Univ. of Missouri – Columbia. She has held several leadership roles – including Chapter Lead and Strategic Advisor – in the DMV Chapter of Women in Data.