BRIGADIER GENERAL REID J. NOVOTNY
Brig. Gen. Reid J. Novotny is both the U.S. Cyber Command’s Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, and the Department of War’s Cyber Force Generation Lead. In this dual role, he is responsible for forging America's dominance in the next generation of warfare. By integrating the nation's unmatched commercial innovation with advanced military capabilities, his leadership ensures the United States remains the world's preeminent power in the digital domain by developing the tools, talent, and training necessary to defend the homeland and project American strength against any adversary.
General Novotny entered Active Duty in July of 2001 after receiving his undergraduate degree with a distinguished graduate award from ROTC at The George Washington University. He then participated in a one-year Air Force Educational delay to receive his Master’s Degree. Later that year, he attended the Air Force Basic Communications Officer Training Course and transitioned into being a Cyber Officer as the career field was established in 2010. General Novotny has served around the world and stateside to include the White House, Pentagon, and in Maryland successfully completing multiple command and staff positions.
Prior to his current position, General Novotny was the Senior Military Policy Advisor for the National Cyber Director at the White House.
General Novotny also recently served as the Air National Guard A2/6 Director where he oversaw a portfolio to include intelligence, cyber forces, and systems architecture supporting and enabling over 108,400 Air National Guard Airmen and civilians across 90 wings and 180 installations in 159 communities throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2001 Master of Science, Computer Security, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2005 Squadron Officer School (SOS), Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2006 SOS, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Art, Strategic Communications, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
2017 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 Leading Data-Driven and Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Organizations, Stanford University, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2024 National Security Studies Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2024 United States Air Force Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Capitol Hill Club, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2001 - August 2003, Air Force Network Operations and Security Center Crew Commander, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
2. August 2003 - July 2004, Staff Officer, Defense Information Systems Agency, Arlington, Va.
3. July 2004 - August 2006, Aide-de-Camp, Defense Information Systems Agency, Arlington, Va.
4. August 2006 - August 2008, Flight Commander 15th Communications Squadron, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
5. August 2008 - August 2009, Staff Officer Pacific Air Force/A6, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
6. August 2009 - July 2010, Staff Officer, Secretary of the Air Force/Chief Information Officer-A6, Pentagon, Va.
7. July 2010 - July 2011, Chief Executive Communications Secretary of the Air Force & Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Pentagon, Va.
8. August 2011 - December 2012, Air Force Fellow, Strategic Communications, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
9. December 2012 - May 2013, Staff Officer, Secretary/PA, Pentagon, Va.
10. June 2013 - July 2015, Commander 35th Communications Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan
11. July 2015 - January 2017, Director of Staff, SAF/CIO-A6, Pentagon, Va.
12. January 2017 - December 2018, Staff Officer followed by Deputy Commander, 175th Cyberspace Operations Group, Warfield Air National Guard Base, Md.
13. December 2018 - August 2020, Maryland National Guard J6, Camp Fretterd Military Reservation, Md.
14. August 2020 - March 2023, Commander, 175th Cyberspace Operations Group, Warfield Air National Guard Base, Md.
15. June 2023 - April 2024, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard for CYBERCOM J5 Matters, Md.
16. May 2024 - August 2025, Director, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations, (A2/6), Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
17. August 2025 - September 2025, Senior Military Policy Advisor, Assistance National Cyber Director, U.S. White House, Washington, D.C.
18. September 2025 - Present, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Department of War's Cyber Force Generation Lead, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2023 - April 2024, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard for CYBERCOM J5, Matters, Md., as a Brigadier General
2. September 2025 - Present, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer & Department of War’s Cyber Force Generation Lead, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md., as a Brigadier General
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 Basic Parachute Wings, Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Master Cyber Operations and Senior Intelligence
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 20, 2000
First Lieutenant May 20, 2002
Captain May 20, 2004
Major Dec. 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2015
Colonel Dec. 12, 2018
Brigadier General June 1, 2023
(Current as of February 2026)
