Cyber Command turns to veteran of intelligence agencies for top AI role

Cyber Command turns to veteran of intelligence agencies for top AI role

U.S. Cyber Command has a new artificial intelligence leader, as the country’s military races to integrate the transformative technology into digital operations.

Ronzelle Green, who most recently served as the head of research and development at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), has been tapped as the command’s latest chief AI officer.

He replaces Brig. Gen. Reid Novotny, who was the first appointee to the role, which Cyber Command created last year to steer its portion of a Pentagon-wide push to adopt AI. For instance, in fiscal 2026 the command requested just $5 million for an “AI for Cyber Operations” effort. The request mushroomed to $138 million in fiscal 2027, according to budget documents.

“To maintain decision superiority in this environment, USCYBERCOM must field AI capabilities that allow cyber operators to process large volumes of data, identify malicious activity, and respond to threats faster than human operators alone can achieve,” the documents state.

Prior to NGA — a combat support agency within the Defense Department that is also an element of the U.S. intelligence community — Green was the chief information officer for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. He was also the director of Commonwealth Integration in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, where he was responsible for incorporating Five Eyes partners into the broader defense intelligence enterprise.

Green is also a senior U.S. Coast Guard Reserve officer. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Oral Roberts University, a master’s degree from North Carolina State University, a master’s in Strategic Intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College and has a Ph.D in Systems Engineering from The George Washington University.

“U.S. Cyber Command welcomes Rear Adm. Ronzelle Green as the Command’s new Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and thanks Brig. Gen. Reid Novotny for his leadership and service,” a command spokesperson said in a statement.

Unlike the National Security Agency — which shares resources with Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland, and established its own Artificial Intelligence Security Center in 2023 – it’s unclear to current and former officials where Cyber Command’s AI focal point is. Pilot programs and other efforts are sprinkled throughout the entire military organization and its forces.

“It’s everywhere. Everyone is doing their own ‘home brew’ thing,” according to a command official who was not authorized to speak on the record.

Multiple sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that one of Green’s priorities should be to consolidate and organize the various efforts underway.

“He needs to be the one-stop shop for AI,” one of these people said.