Defense technology
10 heads of data in Defense technology
These ten executives have held chief data officer or head of data titles at defense and aerospace companies, some combined with analytics, AI or digital responsibilities. A reader can learn how data leaders in defense set data strategy, organize data teams and bring analytics and AI into their businesses.
Professionals to explore
01—10Alan Sim, Ph.D.
LinkedInExperience: Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO) · Leidos
Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO) at Leidos since July 2025; the profile describes leading data, analytics, AI and digital transformation initiatives and executing enterprise-wide data, analytics and AI strategies across federal, defense and healthcare settings. He was Chief Data Officer (CDO) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020–2025) and Chief, Data Innovation Branch and Chief Data Scientist at Vista Defense Technologies, LLC (2017–2020).
Chris Sanders
LinkedInExperience: Chief Data Officer · BAE Systems
Chief Data Officer at BAE Systems since June 2024, a role the profile describes as Chief Data Officer for Naval Ships, part of the Maritime and Land Sector. At BAE Systems he was also Head of Data and Analytics (2021–2024) and Engineering Manager - systems and data integration (2015–2021), and he was Engineering configuration and data analyst at Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (2008–2014).
Christopher Blood
LinkedInExperience: Head of Data and Digital · BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
Former Head of Data and Digital at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence (2019–2023). He has been Head of Data Exploitation at BAE Systems since January 2026, where the profile says he leads a team working under the Group Chief Data Officer on increasing the value the business realises from its use of data; the profile also lists CDO Lead for Advanced Data Exploitation (Secondment) at BAE Systems (2024–2025).
Christopher Klubertanz
LinkedInExperience: Chief Data and AI Officer · Naval Systems, Inc. (NSI)
Chief Data and AI Officer at Naval Systems, Inc. (NSI) since February 2024; the profile describes a data science background in the military aerospace industry. His other NSI roles include Director, Technology and Analytics Division (2021–2024), Deputy Director, Technology and Analytics (2020–2021) and Chief Data Scientist (2019–2020), and he was Senior Data Analyst at Lockheed Martin (2017–2019).
Johanna Hutchinson
LinkedInExperience: Chief Data Officer · BAE Systems
Chief Data Officer at BAE Systems since August 2023; the profile says her work in the role has focused on leveraging technology transformation to develop and embed AI. She has also been Advisory Board Chair - CXO Chief Data Officer Summit at CXO Group Ltd since 2023, and she served on the Non Executive Board Of Trustees of The Royal Statistics Society (2019–2025).
Matt C
LinkedInExperience: Head of Data · BAE Systems Air
Head of Data at BAE Systems Air since November 2025, with a profile headline reading Head of Data - FCAS. He was Head of Collaborative Environment at BAE Systems Air (2023–2025), and at Microsoft he was Senior Partner Cloud Solution Architect (2021–2023) and Application Development Manager (2015–2021).
Michael Owen
LinkedInExperience: Director, MFC Chief Data & Analytics Officer · Lockheed Martin
Former Director, MFC Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Lockheed Martin (2022–2024), with MFC identified in the profile as Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control. He has been Director, MFC Digital Transformation Officer (DTO) there since 2024, and his other Lockheed Martin roles include Senior Manager, Data Strategy (2019–2024) and Senior Manager, IT Strategy (2017–2019).
Mitch Robinson
LinkedInExperience: Head of Data, Analytics, and Modelling · Leidos
Head of Data, Analytics, and Modelling at Leidos since June 2025; the profile describes Leidos as a defense and space manufacturing company addressing challenges in national security and health. His other Leidos roles include Senior Data Scientist (2021–2025), Data Scientist (2017–2021) and Senior Financial Analyst (2017).
Sarah Dickens
LinkedInExperience: Chief Data Officer · Arcfield
Chief Data Officer at Arcfield since June 2026; the profile describes Arcfield as a company specializing in missile defense and hypersonic defense. Her other listed roles include Workforce Compliance at Systems Planning & Analysis (2025–2026) and Senior Consultant, Human Capital Analyst Organizational Transformation at Deloitte (2021–2024).
Vincent Gicquel
LinkedInExperience: R&T and Innovation Director Chief Data Officer DMS Global Business Unit · Thales
Former R&T and Innovation Director Chief Data Officer DMS Global Business Unit at Thales (2022–2025), a role the profile says involved shaping the global business unit's technology strategy and defining and implementing its technology roadmap. He has been Chief AI Officer Thales Emarat Technologies since 2025 and was Chief Digital Officer Value & Bid Marketing DMS Global Business Unit at Thales (2019–2022).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope to yours, since running data for a whole group differs from leading data for one sector, program or business unit. For AI and analytics questions, favor people whose titles combine data with analytics or AI, and for governance questions, favor those whose notes describe data strategy work.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you structure data governance when data sits across classified and unclassified environments?
- 02Which data and AI use cases delivered value first in a defense business, and why?
- 03How do you work with program, engineering and security teams to make data usable across the company?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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