The Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) announced that Sharothi Pikar will be joining the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) as its first deputy chief digital and artificial intelligence officer (CDAO), acquisitions.
The Office of the CDAO serves as the successor organization to the JAIC. As deputy CDAO, acquisitions, Pikar will lead the development, procurement, and acquisition of capabilities with the DoD’s academic and industry partners.
“Sharothi is perfect for the role, bringing her knowledge and expertise in acquiring new technologies for the department and coming into a team already working innovative and exciting contract vehicles here at CDAO,” said John Sherman, DoD chief information officer and acting CDAO. “Her hire along with the rest of our leadership really highlights the importance of CDAO. We are recruiting top level talent from all over. They know our mission is the future!”
Pikar will join the CDAO team after serving as the command acquisition executive and director of J9 (cyber acquisition and technology) at the DoD’s U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), according to her LinkedIn.
Pikar has served in a number of roles at the DoD, including associate director for cyber strategies at OUSD(R&E), Office of the Secretary of Defense; acting assistant director of cyber at OUSD(R&E), Office of the Secretary of Defense; and senior advisor of cyber capabilities; just to name a few.
