Cheryl Ingstad

Cheryl Ingstad serves as the Deputy Director, Digital Platforms & Developer Ecosystem for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).  She most recently served as the Managing Director of the National Security Innovation Network, a subordinate organization of the DIU.

Cheryl brings extensive experience in both government and industry to DIU. She 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, Cheryl 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.

Cheryl has served in an enlisted, NCO, officer and DOD civilian capacity in the Intelligence Community over the course of her career.  She qualified as an Intelligence officer,  Signal officer, Russian linguist, German linguist, Intelligence Analyst and Human Intelligence Operations Officer.

Her undergraduate degree is from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University and graduate degree from the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.  Both degrees are in International Relations with an area focus on Russia and East Europe.