WASHINGTON – Department of War (DoW) Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies, announced several key appointments to her senior leadership team. These accomplished individuals will accelerate the Department’s digital modernization, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance collaboration with the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), directly supporting the National Defense Strategy. 

"I am thrilled to welcome this world-class group of leaders to the team," said Hon. Davies. "Their collective expertise in cybersecurity, defense innovation, and enterprise-level strategy is exactly what we need to accelerate our mission. Their leadership will drive transformation across the entire CIO enterprise, cutting through bureaucracy to deliver secure, cutting-edge technology to our warfighters. We are accelerating our work to bring innovative technologies to the fight, support the IT requirements of AI, and engage meaningfully with our allies, partners, and the DIB. This team's mission is to ensure America’s fighting force has the decisive digital advantage on any battlefield, and they will make that a reality." 

Ms. Kayla Huthoefer Nelson will serve as the new Chief of Staff for the Office of the CIO (OCIO), where she will oversee the operational tempo and strategic management of the office. She brings deep expertise from a career advising senior leaders at the intersection of government, the DIB, and venture-backed defense technology, including senior roles at BAE Systems, Inc., Clarity Innovations, and as a Defense Advisor to the Colorado Aerospace and Defense Economic Council. 

Mrs. Marci McCarthy has been appointed the new Director of External Engagements. She will shape the CIO’s strategic communications and lead engagement with industry, international allies, and other key partners. Mrs. McCarthy is a recognized leader in cybersecurity and public affairs who previously served as the Director of Public Affairs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and founded the premier Information Security Executive (ISE) Program Series. 

To further deepen the office’s technical expertise and accelerate its transformation, Hon. Davies announced three new advisory positions. 

Mr. Ryan McArthur joins as the Special Advisor to the CIO for Capability Development and Operational Excellence. A decorated, retired Army Signal Chief Warrant Officer, Mr. McArthur will provide critical counsel on emerging technologies and guide the Department’s most complex technical initiatives. He brings extensive public and private sector experience, having previously served as Federal Chief Technology Officer at Zscaler and as the leader of the $9billion Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) program at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). 

Mr. David Vaughn will serve as a Technical Advisor for Data Infrastructure, providing expertise on data and AI initiatives. A decorated U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Cyber), his career spans nearly three decades in operational cyber warfare and enterprise risk management. His service includes senior advisory roles at the 75th Innovation Command and DISA, along with private sector leadership positions at Equinix and Cyber Defense Technologies. 

Mr. Vishal Aswani, after serving with distinction as Chief of Staff, will transition to a new temporary role as Special Advisor for Transformation. He will guide the OCIO’s large-scale organizational change and business process re-engineering efforts. Mr. Aswani brings extensive federal experience, including prior leadership roles within the DoW, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. 

Please direct any questions to Pentagon Press Operations: osd.pa.dutyofficer@mail.mil.