JULY 16, 2026 – The Department of the Navy announced this month the formal approval of its Strategy to Weaponize Data and Artificial Intelligence, establishing the Department’s roadmap for building a data-ready, AI-enabled force capable of accelerating decision-making and maintaining maritime superiority.
Signed by Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, the strategy is effective immediately and reflects more than a year of collaboration led by the Department of the Navy Chief Data and AI Officer (DON CDAO), alongside AI communities across both the Navy and Marine Corps.
“This strategy positions the Department of the Navy to out-learn and out-fight any adversary by rapidly deploying data and artificial intelligence,” said Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao. “It is our roadmap to building an ‘AI-first’ Fleet, one that turns information into warfighting advantage and enables faster, better decisions.”
The Department will integrate data and AI for mission impact through a five-step digital adaptation framework, the Bits2Effects Cycle, allowing us to rapidly learn and adapt during competition and war.
Specifically, the strategy:
- Accelerates operational AI by identifying the most promising AI projects and rapidly evaluating success for full scale implementation.
- Improves data readiness by standardizing, simplifying, and scaling data management capabilities to ensure mission-relevant data is ready to be easily discovered and shared.
- Optimizes data and AI infrastructure by deploying reliable, secure, and modular environments including the hardware, software, and data necessary to support the full range of AI capabilities.
- Streamlines data and AI governance by modernizing organizational processes to accelerate change and push risk determinations to the lowest level.
- Builds a data and AI ready workforce by recruiting, training, and qualifying highly skilled personnel ready to meet the operational needs and rapid pace of AI evolution.
- Strengthens partnership and collaboration by leveraging industry, academia, federal stakeholders, and Allies and partner relationships to accelerate delivery of industry leading data and AI solutions.
“This strategy formalizes the direction the Department has already been moving,” said Barry Tanner, performing the duties of the Chief Information Officer for the Department of the Navy. “Every day, our Sailors, Marines, civilians, and industry partners are finding new ways to leverage data and artificial intelligence to solve operational challenges. This strategy aligns those efforts under a common vision, accelerates innovation, and ensures we continue to outpace our competitors in an increasingly data-driven battlespace.”
This transformation represents the Department’s most significant opportunity to rapidly enhance warfighting effectiveness in the digital age. By empowering our missions with AI, quality data, and new technologies, we will accelerate learning and generate decisive operational advantages. The resulting efficiencies will return valuable resources such as time, funding, and personnel, directly to mission priorities, ensuring America’s continued maritime superiority.
Read the Strategy to Weaponize Data and Artificial Intelligence.