Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) Activities

The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) Activities program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0606135D8Z, is managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and is focused on strengthening and integrating data, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital solutions across the Department of Defense (DoD). The overarching goal is to support the National Defense Strategy by building an enduring competitive advantage for the Joint Force and the broader defense ecosystem. The CDAO is tasked with ensuring that the DoD can efficiently assess, assure, and rapidly field AI-enabled capabilities that are lethal, performant, and reliable, while also addressing institutional management priorities and removing policy barriers.

Within this program, the Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Technologies line item supports research and development efforts aimed at advancing AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities for the DoD. The primary objectives include the development and deployment of critical tools, infrastructure, and best practices to all DoD partners. This encompasses the creation and release of the Responsible AI (RAI) Toolkit and its web application, the establishment of the AI Assurance Portal, and the provision of DoD Data and Model Card Templates and supporting software. These resources are designed to facilitate the safe, effective, and responsible use of AI across a range of defense applications.

The Responsible AI (RAI) Division is a central component of the CDAO's efforts, serving as the Department's lead for Responsible AI and AI Assurance. Its objectives include managing the AI Assurance Portal, developing technical tools and best practices, and providing governance and policy guidance related to responsible AI. The RAI Division is also responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, and integration of AI Assurance tools and processes, as outlined in the Responsible AI Strategy & Implementation Pathway (S&IP). This ensures that AI systems used by the DoD meet high standards for safety, reliability, and ethical use.

A key focus of the RAI Division is the development and validation of the RAI Toolkit, which provides modular solutions tailored to specific use cases, such as autonomous weapon systems and generative AI. The division conducts pilots and validation exercises with DoD and international partners to refine these toolkits and integrate lessons learned into subsequent versions. Additionally, the RAI Division supports the DoD's Frontier AI Red Teaming Program, which is designed to test and benchmark advanced AI systems, and provides technical guardrails for the deployment of frontier AI technologies.

The RAI Division also plays a significant role in building the DoD RAI Ecosystem by chairing the Department's RAI Working Council, leading the RAI Community of Interest, and co-chairing NATO's working group on AI Assurance. It also leads the Federal Government's Chief AI Officer Council Risk Practices Working Group, which sets recommended risk processes and resources for compliance with White House policy and requirements. These collaborative efforts help ensure that the DoD's AI initiatives are aligned with broader federal and international standards for responsible AI.

In FY 2025 and FY 2026, the program's objectives include completing multiple pilots and validation exercises for the RAI Toolkit, developing new technical tools for AI assurance, safety, and performance testing, and maintaining critical RAI architecture and ecosystems. The program also aims to transition key capabilities to other CDAO directorates and DoD partners, ensuring sustained support for responsible AI practices across the Department. Funding and activities for Responsible AI are being consolidated and realigned to better support these objectives and to ensure comprehensive management of AI assurance activities.