The Department of the Air Force has released its new data and AI strategies, outlining a roadmap to become an AI-first force and embed advanced technologies across operations.
Announced on April 20 by the Office of the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer, the framework positions data and AI as critical force multipliers to maintain air and space dominance.
Aligned with the 2026 National Defense Strategy, the initiatives aim to accelerate both enterprise and combat capabilities, enabling faster, data-driven decision-making against near-peer adversaries.
“Our focus is not on developing AI for its own sake, but on rapidly delivering tangible, combat-ready capabilities that solve real-world operational problems. By becoming an AI-first force, we will empower our warfighters to out-think, out-maneuver, and out-pace any adversary,” Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said.
The strategies prioritize mission areas including training, readiness, and multi-domain operations, while promoting data as a strategic asset. A decentralized data architecture is designed to provide warfighters with timely, trusted information.
“In today’s complex global security environment, data and artificial intelligence are no longer support functions — they are the foundation of our strategic overmatch. Execution of these strategies ensures the Department of the Air Force remains agile and decisively ahead of pacing threats,” Susan Davenport, DAF’s chief data and AI officer, added.