Pentagon Taps Ex-DOGE Staffer With Controversial Past as AI Chief
Gavin Kliger, who worked on Elon Musk's government overhaul, named Pentagon Chief Data Officer to spearhead AI efforts.
The Pentagon just handed its top data role to Gavin Kliger, a computer scientist who previously worked alongside Elon Musk's DOGE initiative to reshape government operations. Kliger will serve as Chief Data Officer and lead the department's artificial intelligence push.
The appointment comes with baggage. Kliger previously reposted content from Nick Fuentes, a figure widely identified as a white supremacist. That detail is already drawing scrutiny as he steps into one of the most consequential tech roles in the U.S. defense apparatus.
As CDO, Kliger will oversee how the Pentagon manages, shares, and leverages its massive data infrastructure — a role that sits at the intersection of national security and cutting-edge AI development. The position carries enormous influence over which AI systems get built and deployed across the military.