Jennifer Orozco named acting Air Force CIO

Department of the Air Force Deputy Chief Information Officer Jennifer Orozco will serve as acting CIO while leadership searches for a permanent replacement for the role, an official told DefenseScoop.

Orozco has been the deputy CIO since September 2024 following an organizational reshuffle under the department’s broader plan to reorganize for future large-scale conflicts. As acting CIO, she will oversee the Air and Space Forces’ IT, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence modernization efforts. Orozco is taking over for Venice Goodwine, who is retiring as DAF CIO. 

Prior to becoming deputy CIO, Orozco was the director of security, special program oversight and information protection within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, where she was responsible for highly classified efforts known as special access programs (SAP).

She previously served as an active and reserve duty Air Force officer for two decades, entering civil service in 2008 with the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s intelligence directorate and then transferring to the Department of the Air Force in 2013.

According to her official bio, Orozco was key to standing up the Air Force Counter Insider Threat program — designed to mitigate potential risks from Air Force personnel who may try to harm national security — and has led other Pentagon efforts in security reform.

Orozco will take charge as acting CIO following Goodwine’s departure Friday. In March, Goodwine announced on LinkedIn that she planned to leave federal service and explore other opportunities outside of government.

“After years of tackling complex challenges, I’m looking forward to this period of rest and reflection. But make no mistake—this is just a break, not an ending. I remain excited about future opportunities and new ways to contribute,” Goodwine wrote.