Dr. Kristen Alexander
Chief Learning and Artificial Intelligence Officer; Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Emerging Technologies; Director, Operational Test and Evaluation; Office of the Secretary of Defense; Defense Department
Dr. Kristen Alexander’s assessments of Defense Department systems and services through the Defense Acquisition System helped make sound acquisition decisions. This led to the delivery of proven combat-ready weapon systems crucial to achieving DOD’s mission success and strategic objectives.
“After two decades of implementing test and evaluation policy to increasingly complex systems, I am eager to drive transformative changes required to support joint warfighting concepts and delivery of a lethal, suitable, resilient, survivable, agile, and responsive future Joint Force,” she said.
Sandra Hobson, deputy director DOT&E for strategic initiatives, policy and emerging technologies, believes Alexander is ready for the challenge. Alexander has the technical expertise necessary to develop and implement a strategy to prepare the test and evaluation enterprise for future demands.
“She has also demonstrated the ability to effectively lead people by fostering organizational and workforce transformations,” Hobson said. “Most recently, she has applied her passion for teaching and mentorship to initiate the development of continuous learning program intended to enhance the readiness of our workforce and their response to emerging test and evaluation requirements.”
Why Watch
In 2023, Alexander will work on addressing DOD’s test and evaluation challenges in artificial intelligence.
“My team will be working across the test and evaluation enterprise, academia and industry to identify and address shortfalls needed to support adequate testing of operational and ethical performance of artificial intelligence-enabled systems as we simultaneously develop policy and training curriculum to support our test and evaluation workforce,” she said.