- NASA has placed data governance and workforce planning under the new role
- The executive will represent NASA in the Genesis Mission with OSTP and DOE
- Explore AI, OneGov, digital labor and more at the 2026 FedCiv Summit
NASA’s search for a senior data and AI leader comes as the White House seeks $76 billion for IT programs across federal civilian agencies in fiscal year 2027. Federal technology officials will discuss how agencies plan to put that funding to work at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 FedCiv Summit on Oct. 29, where AI will be a key topic alongside federal shared services, GSA’s OneGov strategy, digital labor, trusted information-sharing, AI-driven IT modernization and more. Save your seat now to hear directly from the officials shaping federal civilian technology.
According to a notice posted on USAJobs, the permanent, full-time Senior Executive Service position will be based at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The space agency will accept applications through Oct. 29.
NASA has titled the position chief data and super intelligence officer, using the terminology President Donald Trump directed executive branch agencies to adopt in place of artificial intelligence in a September executive order. Trump also formed the Super Intelligence Force to coordinate federal efforts to keep the U.S. at the forefront of the technology.
What Will the Role Involve?
The executive will lead NASA’s enterprise data and AI strategy, driving the adoption of advanced AI technologies to support scientific research, mission operations and autonomous systems.
On the governance side, the official will set agencywide data and AI policies and standards and serve as vice chair of the agency’s Data and Super Intelligence Governance Board, which supports the deputy administrator. The role also includes representing NASA in interagency councils and external partnerships, including the Genesis Mission with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Department of Energy.
Within the agency, the executive will work with mission directorates, centers and senior leaders to align data and AI initiatives with IT modernization, cybersecurity and privacy priorities. Additional duties include overseeing data life cycle management, enterprise analytics, long-term investment planning and workforce development programs.
What Are the Requirements for the Position?
NASA is considering qualified civil service employees, SES reinstatement-eligible candidates and certified graduates of the SES Candidate Development Program. Applicants must submit a two-page resume showing the executive core qualifications and the role’s technical qualifications, along with senior-level supervisory or managerial experience.
The position requires sensitive compartmented information clearance and financial disclosure filings.
What Are the Recent Tech Leadership Changes at NASA?
The search follows the appointment of Kevin Murphy as NASA’s acting chief AI officer and acting chief data officer. Murphy took on the dual roles while continuing to serve as chief science data officer within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
Sean Gallagher, whom NASA named permanent CIO in June after he served in an acting capacity since January, oversees the agency’s portfolio of IT products and services.
The recruitment comes as NASA expands its participation in the Genesis Mission, the national effort to apply AI to scientific research. NASA joined the initiative in July as the White House committed over $5 billion to expand the Genesis Mission across more than 15 agencies. The commitment built on DOE’s investment of over $320 million in December 2025 for AI models, robotics and autonomous laboratories.