Douglas Matty is stepping down from his position as the Pentagon’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer to focus on the Trump administration’s “Golden Dome for America” missile defense initiative, according to DefenseScoop.
Congress was notified of this transition earlier this week, and the Defense Department is expected to provide further details on Wednesday.
Andrew Mapes, the Principal Deputy CDAO, will temporarily lead the department’s AI hub until a new chief digital and artificial intelligence officer is appointed.
Before reaching full operational capacity in 2022, the AI office integrated several technology-focused organizations at the Pentagon, including the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Defense Digital Service, and the Office of the Chief Data Officer, among others.
The Department of Defense’s vision and priorities for the CDAO have changed multiple times since its establishment. While AI remains a significant priority for the U.S. government under President Trump, the CDAO has experienced a notable departure of senior leaders and technical staff this year.
Matty’s exit coincides with the office’s efforts to enhance data analytics, automation, and next-generation AI capabilities for both military and civilian personnel. Recently, Pentagon leaders introduced a new platform, GenAI.mil, aimed at providing commercial options directly to its workforce.
A West Point graduate, Matty had a 30-year military career as a commissioned officer in the Army and was appointed as the first permanent CDAO in April under the second Trump administration. In his new role, he will support the Golden Dome initiative, which aims to deploy a next-generation missile defense system for the U.S.
In August, senior Defense Department leaders announced that the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, led by Emil Michael, would take over the authority of the CDAO.
In response to inquiries about Matty’s status and the office’s future, Michael indicated that although he was relatively new to the role, he recognized challenges in retaining talent, noting that sophisticated AI professionals often find lucrative opportunities in the private sector. He emphasized the importance of the mission and the potential for impactful work to attract talent back to the Department of Defense.
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