Original broadcast 5/11/25
Presented by Okta and Carahsoft
As Venice Goodwine prepares to step down from her role as Chief Information Officer of the U.S. Air Force, she leaves behind a transformed enterprise and a roadmap for continued modernization. In just under two years, Goodwine has led the Air Force through an aggressive IT evolution—implementing zero trust architecture, launching enterprise-wide AI initiatives, and bringing data to the forefront of decision-making.
Speaking with Fed Gov Today at TechNet Cyber, Goodwine reflected on the journey, the outcomes achieved, and what she’ll be watching from the outside.
“When I came into this role in August of 2023, we hadn’t yet executed enterprise IT as a service. We hadn’t begun the modernization of our bases. We didn’t have a formal AI Center of Excellence. And we didn’t have a way to deliver data on demand,” she said. “Today, we’ve built momentum across all of those priorities—and they’re now core to how we operate.”
“What zero trust allows us to do is give our airmen and guardians secure access from anywhere, regardless of device or network,” she explained. “That’s a huge shift from traditional perimeter-based models. We’re securing the data and applications directly, which gives us resilience and flexibility.”
That flexibility, Goodwine adds, is critical in an environment where operations can launch from any of the Air Force’s 180+ global installations. Infrastructure modernization at the base level—transport, communications, and power—is being reimagined to support secure, agile mission execution from anywhere in the world.
Under Goodwine’s leadership, the Air Force has stood up an AI Center of Excellence to support the full continuum of artificial intelligence—from productivity tools to autonomous systems. The goal isn’t just to experiment with AI, but to operationalize it responsibly.
“We’re asking: how do we use AI in a way that enhances productivity and mission execution, but also aligns with ethical and responsible practices?” she said. “It’s not just about the technology. It’s about the people who are going to use it.”
She emphasized workforce readiness as a key element of the AI strategy. The Center of Excellence is not only driving innovation—it’s helping prepare airmen and guardians to integrate AI into their everyday missions.
Perhaps the most impactful initiative launched under Goodwine’s tenure is “data on demand”—a strategy to ensure leaders at all levels can access the right information, at the right time, with the right level of trust. That means tagging and cataloging data across systems, establishing governance, and enabling decision-making at speed.
“In a data-rich environment like ours, every sensor produces telemetry,” she said. “We’re using automation, including AI, to parse that information and turn it into something actionable.”
Whether for base infrastructure monitoring, cybersecurity posture, or operational risk, the Air Force is moving toward a real-time analytics model that treats data as a strategic asset.
Referencing industry discussions about “blowing up RMF” (Risk Management Framework), Goodwine said the intent is not to eliminate oversight but to streamline how it’s delivered.
“Automation is about making the right risk decisions faster, and then continuously validating that those decisions still hold,” she said. “It’s not enough to check a box once. You need to know every day whether your controls are still effective.”
As she prepares to exit, Goodwine isn’t just watching whether her initiatives continue—she’s watching how they evolve. In particular, she hopes to see the innovation culture she nurtured continue to grow.
“I’ve always believed in innovation and empowerment,” she said. “That’s why we created the Innovation Landing Zone—to give our workforce a space to explore new ideas. And out of that have come real warfighter capabilities.”
By decentralizing decision-making and giving front-line teams the tools and authority to say “start” or “stop,” she believes the Air Force is enabling faster, smarter outcomes at every level.
Asked what she’ll be watching from the outside, Goodwine pointed to two big areas: the completion of base infrastructure modernization, and the long-term impact of the AI Center of Excellence—especially in building a digitally fluent workforce.
“I want to see the modernization fit each mission—not a one-size-fits-all approach,” she said. “And I want to see AI being used thoughtfully, with a workforce that’s equipped to drive it forward.”
For Goodwine, her tenure has been both challenging and rewarding. “People made it worth it,” she said. “The CIO team, my colleagues, our industry partners—they’ve accepted every challenge I’ve put in front of them. That’s what made the job everything I hoped it would be.”