(US & Canada) VIDEO | We Will Be AI-ready by 2025 — US Air Force CDAIO

Eileen Vidrine, Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Chief Data and AI Office of the U.S. Department of the Air Force, speaks with Adita Karkera, Chief Data Officer for Government and Public Services at Deloitte, in a video interview, about what it takes to stay ahead in data, the importance of fostering relationships, her professional journey, and initiatives to be AI-ready.

Vidrine begins with words of advice for women interested in the data space. She stresses the importance of committing to lifelong learning and investing in one's knowledge. She also encourages professionals to stay connected to their technical roots as they progress in their managerial and executive career paths.

It requires effort to balance learning new things and not losing touch with that baseline, but Vidrine believes it is doable. With solid commitment and investments, anyone can stay ahead and get those opportunities, she says.

Explaining further, Vidrine emphasizes that data and AI professionals should strive to build and foster relationships internally and externally to accelerate change and create the organizational culture they want. She highlights prioritizing technical skills to amplify results.

Shedding light on her professional journey, Vidrine shares how she intentionally applied for the role with the Air Force without any connections. She used her network to prepare for the job interview and was selected. She recounts her journey that began as an enlisted soldier and eventually led her to become the Chief Data Officer of the Department of Air Force. Through her experiences, she notes that even when faced with odds, putting the name in the hat and being ready is critical for extraordinary achievements.

When asked about future organizational initiatives, Vidrine mentions that the Air Force is on track to be AI-ready by 2025. She cites the USAF-MIT AI Accelerator program and the launch of the Autonomous Data and AI Experimentation proving ground as prime examples of the Air Force's proactive approach to data and AI.

Additionally, she comments that the agile development process has enabled the Air Force to advance its capabilities. Vidrine states that the Air Force is taking a crawl-walk-run approach to ensure success in its mission of becoming AI-ready. In conclusion, she reckons that now is an exciting time as the Air Force can see data and AI in action.

CDO Magazine appreciates Eileen Vidrine for her service and sharing her insights and data success stories with our global community.