Chandra Donelson
Chandra L. Donelson is an entrepreneur and American expert in data who has held leadership roles within the public and private sectors. She currently is the Chief Data and AI Officer for the United States Space Force. Donelson is also an advocate for innovation and the author of the children's book The Data Detective at the Carnival.
Education and Early Career
Donelson was raised in Texarkana, Arkansas, and founded Le’Bells Formal and Bridal in 2004 with her mother. After high school, Donelson attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on a track and field scholarship, earning a degree in Business Administration. During her time at the university, she enlisted in the United States Air Force, where she began her career in data and analytics. Throughout her military career, she has held a range of assignments, including with the 927th Fighter Squadron, the 913th Operations Support Squadron, United States Central Command (CENTCOM), and currently serves with Air Combat Command.
She later earned a Master of Business Administration and a Masters in Information Technology from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. Followed by a Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics from the University of Missouri.[1] At the University of Missouri, Donelson specialized in natural language processing and developed AI models to improve the efficiency of data analysis and intelligence reporting.
Department of the Army
From 2017 to 2021, Donelson served as the Army Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Data Manager for the Headquarters Department of the Army G-2. She later became the Deputy Chief Data Officer for the Army Intelligence Community, a position she held until 2023. In these roles, Donelson led initiatives such as the development of the Army Intelligence Community Data Strategy, the Army Intelligence Data Platform (AIDP), and the Army Data Literacy Program, which aimed to enhance data accessibility and analytics capabilities across Army intelligence.[2]
United States Space Force
Since December 2023, Donelson has served as the Chief Data and AI Officer for the United States Space Force. In this role, she is responsible for developing enterprise strategies for data management, analytics, and responsible AI implementation. She authored the United States Space Force Data and Artificial Intelligence FY 2024 Strategic Action Plan, which outlines the service’s roadmap for integrating AI and data into space operations.[6]
Department of the Air Force
From March 2024 to October 2024, Donelson served as the acting Chief Data and AI Officer for the Department of the Air Force, overseeing data and AI initiatives for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, impacting over 700,000 personnel. While in the role Donelson was responsible for multiple groundbreaking initiatives and established the Departments Data and AI Governance structure.
[3] Donelson spearheaded the creation of CLARA, an AI governance tool that tracks and assesses AI projects to enhance transparency and ethical oversight. CLARA has been credited with improving accountability and operational efficiency within Air Force AI initiatives.[4] She also served as the executive sponsor for NIPRGPT, a generative AI tool designed to streamline workflows for Airmen and Guardians, providing secure, conversational assistance for complex tasks.[5] Donelson, also led the development of the DAF’s Artificial Intelligence Services Environment (DAIS-E) aka Innovation Landing Zone (ILZ) an environment for Guardians and Airmen to build GenAI capabilities.
Advocacy and Publications
In 2022, Donelson founded the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia chapter of Women in Data, organizing events to empower professionals in data and technology. She wrote the children's book The Data Detective at the Carnival with contributions from Jordan Morrow. Inspired by her experience explaining data concepts to her son during the COVID-19 pandemic, the book introduces foundational data literacy concepts through storytelling. It has been praised for its innovative approach to making data accessible to young readers.[7] The Data Detective at the Carnival is available in English, Spanish, German, Italian, and French.
Awards and Recognition
Chandra Donelson has received multiple national and international honors for her leadership in data, analytics, and public service. Her awards include:
Data Leaders 100 – North America (#1), CDO Magazine (2025)
Data Science and Analytics Alumni of the Year, University of Missouri-Columbia (2025)
40 Under 40 Data Leaders, CDO Magazine (2024, 2023)
Global Data Power Women, CDO Magazine (2024, 2023)
Global Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics, Corinium (2024, 2023)
Data Leaders 100 – North America (#4), CDO Magazine (2024)
Federal IT Influencers Top 10, FedTech Magazine (2024)
Artificial Intelligence 150 (AI150), Constellation Research (2024)
DataIQ 100: The Most Influential People in Data, DataIQ (2024)
Defense Leader Award, DefenseScoop 50 (2024)
Authentic Leader Award, Universal Women’s Network (2024)
Leader of Tomorrow Award, AIM Research (2023)
Top Tech Leaders to Watch, WashingtonExec (2023)
Rising Star Award, Women Leaders in Data and AI (2022)
Women of Color STEM Rising Star Award, General Motors (2020)
References
^ "Chandra Donelson - govCDOiq.org". Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^ "Top Government Tech Leaders to Watch in 2023: Army's Chandra Donelson". Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^ "Air Force Names Chandra Donelson Acting Chief Data and AI Officer". Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^ "Air Force launches CLARA to strengthen AI governance". Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^ "Department of the Air Force launches NIPRGPT". Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^ "Space Force publishes Data, AI strategic action plan". Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^ "Chandra Donelson Brings Data Literacy to Classrooms with The Data Detective at the Carnival". Retrieved November 29, 2024.
Personal details
Born: Texarkana, Texas
Education: Unversity of Arkansas (BS)
Texas A&M University (MBA)