About the RoleWe are seeking a dynamic and highly organized Special Assistant to support the Director of the Autonomy Division within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD/R&E) Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). This pivotal role serves as the primary liaison between the Autonomy Division and the DCDAO Enterprise FO and higher as required, as well as with key partners across the Department of War (DoW) and industry. You will be instrumental in managing the division's tempo, coordinating strategic engagements, and ensuring the seamless execution of the Director's priorities. This position requires a mature, confident leader who is conversant in AI and autonomy and adept at navigating complex government environments. Ideally a person who can understand and communicate the technical hurdles of developing and fielding computer vision AI models and autonomous systems.
Key Responsibilities- Executive Support & Division Management: Assist the Division Director in managing all aspects of division activities to include awareness of activities in a highly dynamic environment impacting division operations. Ensure strategic objectives are met and operational activities are seamlessly executed.
- Front Office Liaison: Serve as the principal Autonomy Division liaison with the CDAO Front office. Responsible for coordinating, managing, and tracking tasks and schedules covering operations, plans, acquisition, budget, and project management.
- Deliverables & Communications: Prepare and coordinate high-quality, timely documents, read-ahead materials, memos, white papers, presentations, and other deliverables for senior General/Flag Officer and Senior Executive Service leadership. Distill complex technical and programmatic information into clear, concise communications for a variety of audiences.
- Department of War (DoW) Coordination: Coordinate with a wide range of external organizations, including leading DoW autonomy organizations across the Services, combatant commands, and Defense Agencies & Field Activities (DAFAs), especially program offices, R&D, T&E, and research laboratories.
- Industry & Partner Engagement: Act as a key point of contact for coordinating with industry vendor partners for autonomy, facilitating strategic partnerships and ensuring alignment with CDAO objectives.
- Strategic Planning: Support the Director in long-range strategic planning and cross-functional operations. Provide insights on strategic milestones and help align division efforts with the broader CDAO and DoW AI/ML and autonomy strategies.
Required Experience/Clearance- US citizenship with an active Department of War (DoW) Top Secret (TS) security clearance and current access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) (TS/SCI) is required.
- Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of related experience in project management, strategic planning, or executive support, preferably within the DoW. A combination of an advanced degree and experience is also acceptable.
- Demonstrated experience as a proven leader and team builder with a mature, organized, and personable demeanor.
- Must be knowledgeable in DoW work environments, including an understanding of organizational structure, administrative processes, and communication protocols.
- Must be knowledgeable and conversant in current events and capabilities related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Agentic systems, and Autonomy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing briefs, papers, and other materials for senior executive-level consumption.
Desired Experience- Experience working in or directly supporting a senior-level office within the Department of War or the Intelligence Community much as a military staff officer or equivalent would support their leadership.
- Strong understanding of the DoW acquisition, budgeting, and requirements generation processes. A working knowledge of rapid acquisition pathways such as Middle Tier of Acquisition or other transaction authorities OTA agreements would be ideal.
- Experience in coordinating with cross-functional teams across military services, agencies, and industry partners.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
