Lt Gen Mary
O’Brien, USAF (Ret)

Mary O’Brien served in the Air Force for 34 years and held multiple positions of responsibility, including the Headquarters Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, and the Joint Staff Director of C4/Cyber and CIO as a lieutenant general. Throughout her career, she championed the use of transformational technologies to ensure mission success while simultaneously identifying policy and culture changes needed to reduce barriers to service and improve the quality of life for service members and their families. Following her military service, O’Brien currently provides strategic consulting at the intersection of national security and emerging technology and serves on several private companies and start-up advisory boards. As a self-described “technology optimist,” she is a champion for the role technology will play in our future. O’Brien earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the United States Air Force Academy, a M.A. in Organizational Management from George Washington University, and a M.S. in Strategic Studies from the Air War College. Beyond her professional achievements, O’Brien is also a Marine Corps spouse.