Chandra Donelson, Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) for the U.S. Space Force, has been tapped as Strategic Advisor for Enterprise HR IT Modernization, Analytics & AI, for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower & Reserve Affairs (SAF/MR).

Donelson will support the reform and modernization of IT, analytics and AI within the human capital    enterprise for the U.S. Department of the Air Force, supporting approximately 700,000 Airmen, Guardians, and civilians, along with their retirees and dependents.

The Department of the Air Force’s decision to position a proven data and AI leader within its HR portfolio signals that the traditional model separating HR from technology is rapidly changing. This shift reflects a broader trend across the private sector, where AI is driving the evolution of C-suite roles, and companies are placing greater emphasis on human capital systems and how work gets done.

Donelson’s transition follows a pivotal tenure at the U.S. Space Force, where she moved the newest military branch toward a data-centric architecture. Her leadership ensured that information from diverse orbital sensors could be processed and shared across the Department of Defense in near real-time. This work was essential as the Space Force prepared to manage a $71 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, which includes heavy investment in integrating advanced machine learning to automate satellite operations and threat detection. 

Donelson’s experience delivering enterprise transformation in complex environments will be critical in her new role at SAF/MR. She steps into the role as the federal government shifts to consolidate and modernize core human capital management systems, a shift that places workforce systems at the center of broader modernization efforts.