Dr. Ethan Klein has been confirmed by the Senate as the new U.S. Chief Technology Officer, marking the first appointment to the role since 2021 and becoming only the fifth individual to hold the title in history.
He will also serve as Associate Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where he will coordinate national efforts to advance American leadership across emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, nuclear energy, and biotechnology.
The MIT-trained nuclear engineer previously led the emerging technologies portfolio during the first Trump Administration.
His nomination received strong bipartisan support from policymakers and industry leaders who emphasized his technical depth, policy expertise, and commitment to maintaining U.S. technological leadership amid global competition.
Further strengthening federal tech leadership, the Senate has confirmed Kirsten Davies as the Department of Defense’s Chief Information Officer in a 53–43 vote, making her the Pentagon’s top IT and cybersecurity executive.
Nominated by President Trump in May, Davies brings extensive private-sector experience to the role, having served as Chief Information Security Officer at Unilever and Senior Vice President and CISO at The Estée Lauder Companies.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Davies outlined a forward-looking agenda focused on reducing the Department of Defenese’s technology debt, embedding AI to enhance decision-making, and strengthening cyber partnerships with industry and international allies.
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