NASA Appoints Data Veteran Kevin Murphy as CAIO and CDO

NASA has named Kevin Murphy, a 17-year agency veteran, as acting Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Chief Data Officer. The dual appointment fills roles vacated by David Salvagnini, NASA's first-ever CAIO who announced his retirement after more than four decades of federal service.

Murphy assumed both acting positions on November 30, 2025, according to NASA spokesperson Jennifer Dooren. Most recently serving as Chief Science Data Officer within the Science Mission Directorate, Murphy led development of data, computing, and analytics capabilities across NASA's five science divisions.

His work advanced cloud computing, machine learning platforms, and data management systems supporting scientific and engineering innovation.

In addition to his science data leadership, Murphy oversees NASA's High-End Computing Capability portfolio. This supercomputing and data services program powers large-scale modeling, simulation, and analysis across exploration, science, and engineering missions.