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In the News

News | Aug. 25, 2026

CIO Hon. Kirsten Davis Announces New Principal Deputy CIO

August 24, 2026  –  

Sonu ShankarWASHINGTON – Today, the Department of War’s (DoW) Chief Information Officer, the Honorable Kirsten A. Davies, announced the presidential appointment of Sonu Shankar to the position of Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer (PDCIO). As Principal Deputy CIO, Mr. Shankar will drive the Department’s information technology, cybersecurity, and digital modernization initiatives, advancing decision advantage for the warfighter and strengthening America’s technological edge.

“I am pleased to welcome Sonu Shankar to the Office of the CIO (OCIO) to accelerate our bold transformation of the Department’s digital ecosystem in support of Secretary Pete Hegseth’s ‘Arsenal of Freedom’,” said Honorable Kirsten A. Davies, Chief Information Officer for the Department of War. “The addition of Mr. Shankar to our team will add additional firepower to our transformation work and the OCIO team. His decades of experience in cybersecurity and technology, especially his industry experience at the intersection of product innovation, executive leadership, and international business development, will be a tremendous asset to the mission.”

“I am very grateful to President Donald J. Trump, Secretary Pete Hegseth and Honorable Kirsten Davies for this opportunity to serve the America’s warfighters and the national security mission,” said Sonu Shankar, Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Department of War. “The ambitious transformation of the Department’s digital ecosystem is a bold and necessary effort to empower our warfighters and maintain a technological edge over our adversaries.”

Most recently, Mr. Shankar served as a Strategic Advisor to the Department of War as part of the Business Operators for National Defense (BOND) program. Prior to this federal service, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Phosphorus Cybersecurity, where he led global operations, corporate strategy, and growth through the company’s acquisition by Dragos. Mr. Shankar also held senior roles at Arctic Wolf Networks and Cisco Systems and conducted research at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Mr. Shankar holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a degree in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University.

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Congratulations to Mr. Barry Tanner who was named the permanent @USNavy Chief Information Officer. Mr. Tanner drove the implementation of two enterprise service contracts that will have an impact across the Department. He is a ground-breaking leader and an exceptional partner as https://t.co/NfwFiScEId Congratulations to Mr. Barry Tanner who was named the permanent @USNavy Chief Information Officer. Mr. Tanner drove the implementation of two enterprise service contracts that will have an impact across the Department. He is a ground-breaking leader and an exceptional partner as https://t.co/NfwFiScEId
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The @DeptofWar CIO concluded its highly successful spectrum summer internship cohort, culminating in final strategic briefings & a comprehensive communications exercise. Now in its 4th year, the program has grown rapidly from 5 students to 18 this year. Congratulations to all who https://t.co/ouNootXOkM The @DeptofWar CIO concluded its highly successful spectrum summer internship cohort, culminating in final strategic briefings & a comprehensive communications exercise. Now in its 4th year, the program has grown rapidly from 5 students to 18 this year. Congratulations to all who https://t.co/ouNootXOkM
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DEADLINE TODAY: CMMC Reform RFI Closes at 12:00 PM EST! We are breaking down the barriers to accelerate innovation—but we still need your help to make it happen! If you haven’t submitted your responses yet, this is your final opportunity. Don't miss your chance to shape the https://t.co/LFVoYiQqsk
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Less than 2 days left to submit responses to the CMMC Reform RFI, it closes on August 14 at 12:00 PM. Help us cut the red tape and improve the cybersecurity of the DIB. Be part of the future at https://t.co/Ik7X7yhnYL: https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/z269uewJi4
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Hon. Kirsten Davies, DoW CIO, joined Mr. Evan Wolff of Akin Gump for a fireside chat @BlackHatEvents to discuss the generational, non-linear transformation underway at the @DeptofWar. The conversation covered DoW’s shift to treat its entire digital transport layer as a unified https://t.co/87G3AMxY3a Hon. Kirsten Davies, DoW CIO, joined Mr. Evan Wolff of Akin Gump for a fireside chat @BlackHatEvents to discuss the generational, non-linear transformation underway at the @DeptofWar. The conversation covered DoW’s shift to treat its entire digital transport layer as a unified https://t.co/87G3AMxY3a
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Ideas are rolling in on how we can best reform CMMC to unleash innovation in the DIB! Only 5 days left to be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6 https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/JwJF1Ej0f4 Ideas are rolling in on how we can best reform CMMC to unleash innovation in the DIB! Only 5 days left to be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6 https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/JwJF1Ej0f4
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DIB leaders are clear, we have to think differently about their cybersecurity programs. Be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6: https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/PnKIriphmH DIB leaders are clear, we have to think differently about their cybersecurity programs. Be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6: https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/PnKIriphmH
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Hon. @DoWCIODavies, DoW CIO, joined Mr. Evan Wolff of Akin Gump for a fireside chat @BlackHatEvents to discuss the generational, non-linear transformation underway at the @DeptofWar. The conversation covered DoW’s shift to treat its entire digital transport layer as a unified https://t.co/i2AmBLpNtv Hon. @DoWCIODavies, DoW CIO, joined Mr. Evan Wolff of Akin Gump for a fireside chat @BlackHatEvents to discuss the generational, non-linear transformation underway at the @DeptofWar. The conversation covered DoW’s shift to treat its entire digital transport layer as a unified https://t.co/i2AmBLpNtv
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DIB leaders are clear, we have to think differently their cybersecurity programs. Be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6: https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/W42NqeTQWZ DIB leaders are clear, we have to think differently their cybersecurity programs. Be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6: https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/W42NqeTQWZ
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Hon. @DoWCIODavies, joined Laura Stebbing, Vice President of Content at @BlackHatEvents, for a fireside chat at the Black Hat(HER) Executive Reception to discuss how digital transformation and workforce innovation are strengthening the future of defense. From enterprise https://t.co/m7dwdM0xn8 Hon. @DoWCIODavies, joined Laura Stebbing, Vice President of Content at @BlackHatEvents, for a fireside chat at the Black Hat(HER) Executive Reception to discuss how digital transformation and workforce innovation are strengthening the future of defense. From enterprise https://t.co/m7dwdM0xn8
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Ideas are rolling in on how we can best reform CMMC to unleash innovation in the DIB! Be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6 https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/n5UJWccJXr Ideas are rolling in on how we can best reform CMMC to unleash innovation in the DIB! Be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6 https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/n5UJWccJXr
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To date, we have had more than 170 responses to the CMMC Reform RFI and over 650 people have participated in our listening sessions. This is what we are hearing from the front lines. Be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6: https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/sW7aDgRxs0 To date, we have had more than 170 responses to the CMMC Reform RFI and over 650 people have participated in our listening sessions. This is what we are hearing from the front lines. Be part of the future at https://t.co/yjOi3hNLP6: https://t.co/9Oz0ImS8Ev https://t.co/sW7aDgRxs0
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Last week, we proudly held our 25th @DeptofWar Cyber Service Academy (CSA) Bootcamp in Washington, D.C. New scholarship recipients received information regarding academic expectations, service requirements, and internships; engaged with fellow scholars; and heard from DoW CSA https://t.co/SrhCnsTAFP Last week, we proudly held our 25th @DeptofWar Cyber Service Academy (CSA) Bootcamp in Washington, D.C. New scholarship recipients received information regarding academic expectations, service requirements, and internships; engaged with fellow scholars; and heard from DoW CSA https://t.co/SrhCnsTAFP
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@DeptofWar’s Matt Isnor and Tembi Secrist shared details about our newest cyber education and hiring initiatives with educators and industry professionals at the Virginia Cyber Education Conference in Alexandria. From CyberPatriot to Cyber Apprenticeships and Cyber Service https://t.co/1B3m6ee3Yo @DeptofWar’s Matt Isnor and Tembi Secrist shared details about our newest cyber education and hiring initiatives with educators and industry professionals at the Virginia Cyber Education Conference in Alexandria. From CyberPatriot to Cyber Apprenticeships and Cyber Service https://t.co/1B3m6ee3Yo
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Don’t wait! Apply Now. The deadline for @DeptofWar Cyber Registered Apprenticeship Program applications is 11:59 ET, July 24! To access the job announcements, go to USAJOBS or our website: https://t.co/0wMfoglR9s •For High School & College Grads & Career Changers •Fast Track https://t.co/VDacc5BH8v Don’t wait! Apply Now. The deadline for @DeptofWar Cyber Registered Apprenticeship Program applications is 11:59 ET, July 24! To access the job announcements, go to USAJOBS or our website: https://t.co/0wMfoglR9s •For High School & College Grads & Career Changers •Fast Track https://t.co/VDacc5BH8v
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To accelerate the Arsenal of Freedom, @DeptofWar CIO, Honorable Kirsten Davies, announced a historic 10-year Enterprise Software Agreement (ESA) with @Oracle worth up to nearly $7 billion. This first-ever, direct-award contract optimizes the tech budget, saves taxpayers at least https://t.co/8BNRVcMUxN To accelerate the Arsenal of Freedom, @DeptofWar CIO, Honorable Kirsten Davies, announced a historic 10-year Enterprise Software Agreement (ESA) with @Oracle worth up to nearly $7 billion. This first-ever, direct-award contract optimizes the tech budget, saves taxpayers at least https://t.co/8BNRVcMUxN
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Join the Mission: Apply now for the DoW’s Cyber RAP Apprenticeship Opportunities. Whether you’re a high school or new college grad, or are just looking to pivot your career, now is the time to apply on USAJOBS by July 24. Hear from CIO Davies about this unique opportunity. · For https://t.co/s3iT2grBCn
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Today’s innovation cycles are measured in weeks and months, not decades, which is why @DoWCIODavies Hon. Davies' visit with K-Form, DTI, and MOLG alongside @SBA_Kelly Loeffler, Hon. Michael Duffey, and the SBA team reinforced the mandate to cut the red tape stifling the https://t.co/peaxFW0we6 Today’s innovation cycles are measured in weeks and months, not decades, which is why @DoWCIODavies Hon. Davies' visit with K-Form, DTI, and MOLG alongside @SBA_Kelly Loeffler, Hon. Michael Duffey, and the SBA team reinforced the mandate to cut the red tape stifling the https://t.co/peaxFW0we6
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