Cheryl Ingstad serves as the Managing Director of the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN).

She was sworn in on November 9, 2022 by Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). NSIN was established by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2016 to bring together defense, academic and entrepreneurial innovators to solve national security problems in new ways.

Ingstad brings extensive experience in both government and industry to NSIN. She most recently served as the inaugural director of the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office, where she was responsible for coordinating the department’s development and application of AI. In addition to standing up the new office, and achieving approval of its directives and authorities (charter), her team created the department’s AI strategy and created its first-ever AI coordination capability to track, prioritize and share best practices from 700 AI projects, with goals such as addressing climate change, supporting first responders, and providing COVID insights during the peak of the pandemic.

Prior to DOE, Ingstad led corporate and defense organizations for over 20 years. At 3M, she led critical R&D commercialization efforts in AI/Machine Learning for a business unit with revenue of $12 billion. At the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), she directed intelligence operations and was responsible for standing up new capabilities in joint information operations.

Managing Director Engagement and Speaker Request

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Headshot Photograph and Biography

About the National Security Innovation Network

The National Security Innovation Network is a program of the U.S. Department of Defense that collaborates with major universities and the venture community to develop solutions that drive national security innovation. We operate two portfolios of programs and services: Talent and Venture. Together, these portfolios form a pipeline of activities and solutions that accelerate the pace of defense innovation.