U.S. Cyber Command Appoints Ronzelle Green as New Chief AI Officer

Leadership Change at Cyber Command

U.S. Cyber Command has named Ronzelle Green as its new Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. Green previously served as the head of research and development at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). He takes over from Brig. Gen. Reid Novotny, who was the inaugural appointee to the role created last year.

Background and Experience

Before his tenure at NGA, Green was the chief information officer for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. He also directed Commonwealth Integration in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, where he focused on integrating Five Eyes partners into the broader defense intelligence enterprise. Green is also a senior U.S. Coast Guard Reserve officer.

Strategic Importance of AI Integration

This appointment aligns with the U.S. military's broader initiative to incorporate AI into its digital operations. Cyber Command's budget request for AI initiatives reflects this priority, with a request of $138 million for "AI for Cyber Operations" in fiscal 2027, a substantial increase from $5 million in fiscal 2026. The goal is to enable cyber operators to process large data volumes, identify malicious activity, and respond to threats more rapidly than human operators alone.

AI Focus Within Cyber Command

While the National Security Agency (NSA), which shares resources with Cyber Command, established an Artificial Intelligence Security Center in 2023, the specific focal point for AI within Cyber Command remains less defined to some officials. AI pilot programs and other efforts are distributed across the military organization and its forces.