About me
Alexis Bonnell is the Chief Information Officer and Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. She is responsible to develop and execute the AFRL Information Technology strategy, leading the strategic development of highly advanced next generation technologies and platforms for AFRL. Her focus includes catalyzing the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for air, space, and cyberspace forces via digital capabilities, IT infrastructure and technological innovation across the lab’s operations and culture.
She was one of the first employees of the Internet Trade Association, contributing to the early development and growth of the digital landscape. She has served in challenging environments, including warzones with the United Nations to support over $1B of critical DOD operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other operational theaters. She has contributed to dual-use technology and innovation culture across the DOD Innovation community including: AFWERX, AFRL, Kessel Run, NavalX, Marine Innovation Unit, Army Futures Command, DIU, Army Software Factory, DARPA and more. Prior to her current position, she was the Emerging Technology Evangelist at Google, driving the use of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, cyber security/zero trust, API First, Big Data, Cloud Computing, and others to drive efficiency and innovation within government organizations, including tackling digital transformation in defense, healthcare, education, COVID response, natural disasters, supply chain, system/process modernization, hybrid workforce and more.
Bonnell co-founded the Global Development Lab, the premier innovation lab of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), leveraging Global Allied Nation partnerships in Science, Technology, and Innovation, reviewing over 25,000 game changing innovations and technologies, funding 1,200 of them. She served as USAID’s Chief Innovation Officer, receiving the first 10/10 for innovation in the Results for America Rankings. She was named in the Fed 100 in 2020. She also assisted with major platform and technology transitions, drove hybrid work adoption, countering malign nation initiatives and global cyber security programming.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelors, Public Relations, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California
1999 Bachelors, Advertising, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California
1999 International Studies, Pepperdine University, Heidelberg, Germany
2001 Master of Science, Direct & Interactive Marketing, New York University
2008 Stanford Advanced Program Management Certificate, Stanford, California
2008 Certificate in Nonprofit Management, University of Illinois, Chicago
2010 Executive Masters, Business Administration, Kellogg Northwestern, Chicago, Israel, Germany
2024 Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, West Virginia
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
June 1993 - July 1999, Customer Support Director, Verbal Advantage, Calif.
August 1999 - September 2001, Director of Marketing & Communications, Association for Interactive Marketing (The Internet Trade Association) (DMA), N.Y.
September 2001 - April 2002, Chief Marketing and Profit Officer, Word Success, Calif.
April 2002 - September 2003, Vice President- Communications, World Emergency Relief, Calif.
September 2002 - April 2004, Adjunct Professor- Integrated Marketing and Success 101, Pepperdine University
November 2003 - October 2004, Chief Marketing Officer- Palisades Holdings & Rent Reporters, USA and Pakistan
October 2004 - October 2005, Strategic Communications Advisor- UNOPS, Afghanistan
October 2005 - January 2007, Program & Communications Development- Strategic Advisor, UNOPS, Dubai
January 2007 - July 2008, Country & Program Manager-UNOPS, Jerusalem
July 2008 - February 2009, Head of Program, Support, Evaluation and Quality Assurance, UNOPS, Jerusalem
March 2009 - March 2010, Sr. Advisor to the Ministry of Interior of Palestine, DynCorp International, Jerusalem
October 2010 - July 2011, Sr. Advisor Business Transformation/Knowledge Management, USAID, Washington D.C.
July 2011 - August 2013, Chief of Engagement, Education and Youth, USAID E3, Washington D.C.
August 2013 - June 2015, Director, Office of Engagement and Communications, U.S. Global Development Lab, USAID
June 2015 - October 2018, Chief, Applied Innovation & Acceleration, U.S. Global Development Lab, USAID
October 2018 - June 2020, Chief Innovation Officer, USAID, U.S. Global Development Lab
June 2020 - January 2023, Emerging Technology Evangelist, Google
July 2023 - Present, Chief Information Officer and Director, Digital Capabilities Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Senior Industry Fellow, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy, Purdue University
Distinguished Fellow for Technology, Stimson
Loomis Council Member
Board Member, Society for Intl Development
Board Member, Globally,
Board Member, Bay Atlantic University
Associate Member, NAPA Standing Panel on Technology Leadership (AI)
(Current as of MAY 2024)
