Eileen Vidrine

Eileen Vidrine is a national security executive with over 35 years of experience leading influential change across defence, intelligence, air, and space sectors. As the Founder and CEO of Vidrine Vantage, Eileen focuses on utilising data and AI strategy to enhance the success of government and industry leaders. 

Beginning her career as a Transportation/Acquisition Officer within the US Army, Eileen soon moved into defence intelligence, taking on the role of Director of the Centre of Educational Technologies at the National Defence Intelligence College after other educational positions across Northern Virginia and Washington DC. In 2006, she served in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as a Senior Strategist, before taking on the Enterprise Learning Technologies Programme Manager role, then Chief of Staff and Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Human Capital. In 2012, she was the DoD IC Enterprise Architect for the United States Department of Defence, becoming the Chief of Staff for the Human Capital Management Office just two years later. In 2018, Eileen served as the Chief Data Officer for the United States Department of the Air Force, leading data and AI strategy across the US Air and Space Forces. She expanded her expertise by serving as a Senior Strategic Advisor for Data to the Federal CIO. Eileen has served in a number of advisory and board positions for organisations such as FedLearn, Concept Plus, the Mark Cuban Foundation, and Planetary Systems AI. Her current roles include acting as an Advisory Board Member for AI Squared, as an Executive Coach at Carnegie Mellon University, and as CEO and Founder of her advisory firm, Vidrine Vantage. Recently, she joined the inaugural Advisory Board for the National Artificial Intelligence Association. 

Her extraordinary work has seen Eileen recognised with a variety of honours, such as being named an AIM AI 100 Visionary Leader, winning CDO Magazine’s Executive of the Year 2023, and DataIQ’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Her practical insights have been featured across a range of media, including Defence Scoop and GovCIO Media and Research.

A visionary leader operating at the intersection of defence, data, and AI, Eileen has invaluable knowledge and perspectives for a range of audiences at a multitude of events. With an engaging stage presence, Eileen’s discussions offer audiences actionable advice on AI adoption at scale, mission-driven organisations, data governance, and the realities of digital transformation in government. Her expertise in building high-performance teams and cultivating positive work cultures that value skill, foster confidence, and encourage personal growth makes her a fantastic speaker who can connect across teams, individuals and leaders.