Keith Hardiman appointed deputy CIO for Air Force, Space Force
The Department of the Air Force announced Saturday that Keith Hardiman has been approved to serve as its deputy chief information officer on a permanent basis.
He steps into the role after having served as the DAF’s acting deputy CIO. He’ll help oversee the Air and Space Forces’ IT, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence initiatives.
“Since July 2025, Dr. Hardiman has been serving as the acting Deputy CIO, and let’s just say, he has not only filled the role — he has excelled. Under his leadership, our team has navigated complex challenges, propelled innovation, and fostered collaboration at every level,” the department said in a LinkedIn post.
Hardiman has over two decades of experience working with the military’s information technology, including multiple years spent with the 72nd Air Base Wing’s Communications Directorate at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
In 2020, he joined the DAF’s Pentagon staff and has since held multiple positions that focused on IT. Prior to serving as acting deputy CIO, Hardiman was the acting director of enterprise IT within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Updated on March 31, 2026, at 9:35 AM: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Keith Hardiman had been appointed Air Force CIO. This story has been updated to reflect that he has been appointed deputy CIO.
