Lisa Costa | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Technology and Innovaton of the United States Space Force | |
| Assumed office August 2021 | |
| Chief | John W. Raymond |
| Preceded by | John M. Olson (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Education | Rollins College (BS) Tampa College (MBA) Union Institute & University (PhD) |
Lisa A. Costa is an American scientist and defense official who has served as the deputy chief of space operations for technology and logistics of the United States Space Force. She is a recognized expert in operationalizing a broad array of science, technology, and research into global use for effect. A member of the Senior Executive Service, Level 3, she is the inaugural Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO) of the United States' newest military service. The Space Force CTIO role is unique in the Department of Defense (DoD) and serves as the chief scientist, chief analytics officer, chief data and artificial intelligence officer, chief information officer, and chief technology officer of the Service.
She previously served as the first female director of [1] systems and the chief information officer (CIO) of the United States Special Operations Command where she ran the 4th largest IT enterprise in the DoD. With over 95,000 users in over 140 countries, she was accountable for the technical portions of no fail missions for elite military units and operations. She directly controlled and executed a >$1.2B per year budget which included global cloud infrastructure, mobility, satellite and terrestrial communications, and devsecops supporting just in time AI at the edge. She advised on the spending of ~$13.2B per year.[2][3]
She has worked in/with the DoD, Intelligence Community (IC), Departments of Energy, State, Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, and WHCA. As a member of multiple Defense Science Boards, she has shaped national policy on the US role in counterterrorism, helped develop the US homeland security model, and advised the Secretary of Defense and Congress on the convergence of technologies. Previously, she ran a highly effective global effort for which she was awarded the James Schlesinger Thought Leadership Award while working in the shadows and the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
In November 2020, she joined the board of directors of CarParts.com.[4]
1. September 2001-August 2010, Director, Non-traditional Information & Knowledge Exploitation Cell, Tampa, FL
2. September 2010-September 2013, Executive Director of Enterprise Integration, MITRE National Security Engineering Center, Washington, DC
3. September 2013-March 2017, Director of Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction and Violent Extremism, Washington, DC
4. March 2017-March 2018, Vice President of Intelligence and Chief Scientist, PlanteRisk, Washington, DC
5. March 2018-October 2018, Senior Director of Innovation & Technology, Engility Corporation, Washington, DC
6. October 2018-present, Director of Communications Systems and the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL[2]
Costa is the recipient of the following awards:[2]
