Barry Tanner will permanently serve as the Department of the Navy’s chief information officer after two years as its deputy, the Navy said in a release Tuesday.

Tanner will manage the Navy and Marine Corps’ information technology portfolio of more than $12 billion and lead implementation of the department’s strategies on data management, communications and artificial intelligence. He began performing the duties of the CIO this spring, following Jane Rathbun’s departure in December.

Tanner pledged to speed up efforts to incorporate AI into the Navy’s combat and back-end systems. The department last month released a multipoint plan to “weaponize” AI by cleaning up the Navy’s data, building out the needed infrastructure and training, and fast-tracking promising AI projects. 

“In today’s high-end fight, secure, reliable and instantaneous data delivery is just as critical to our warfighters as any kinetic weapon system,” Tanner said in the release.

As deputy CIO, he worked on Operation Cattle Drive, the Navy’s initiative to consolidate and sunset outdated IT systems, as well as other networks and cybersecurity projects.

The former naval captain also supported communications ops in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and worked as deputy CIO for the Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command. He consulted at Booz Allen Hamilton for 10 years before leaving in 2016, according to his LinkedIn page.

“Mr. Tanner’s unparalleled experience, both as a veteran naval officer and a cutting-edge digital leader, makes him the ideal choice to spearhead our digital modernization,” Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said in the release. “He will ensure our Fleet has the lethal, secure, and resilient cyber capabilities needed to defeat any adversary.”

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