La’Naia Jones Named to 2026 Wash100 for Advancing CIA IT Modernization, AI Adoption and Public-Private Partnerships

The Wash100 Award, presented annually by Executive Mosaic, recognizes the most influential and impactful executives shaping the government contracting landscape. La’Naia Jones, chief information officer and director of the information technology Enterprise at the CIA, has been named a 2026 Wash100 Award winner for the first time for her leadership in advancing artificial intelligence adoption, cloud modernization and public-private collaboration across the intelligence community.

“CIO Jones is one of the foremost leaders in the intelligence community in harnessing evolving digital technologies to advance its national security mission,” said Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award.

“Her wealth of knowledge and expertise in leveraging advanced technologies including cloud computing, data sharing and cybersecurity make her an essential leader in IC technology. This first Wash100 Award is a tribute to CIO Jones’ achievements and is a sign of the great things she has in store for GovCon in 2026,” Garrettson said.

As part of this year’s Wash100 season, Executive Mosaic is also hosting its annual Popular Vote Competition — and there are only a little over two weeks left to participate. Vote now to support La’Naia Jones and help recognize her impact across the GovCon and intelligence communities.

Who Is La’Naia Jones?

La’Naia Jones serves as CIO of the CIA and director of the agency’s information technology enterprise, where she oversees all IT systems, personnel and global communications infrastructure. Her role places her at the center of one of the most complex and mission-critical technology environments in government.

Jones brings more than two decades of experience across the intelligence community, including leadership roles at the National Security Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Most recently before joining CIA, she served as NSA’s deputy CIO and information sharing and safeguarding executive, where she oversaw IT strategy spanning cybersecurity, accessibility, data and policy portfolios.

She also served as acting CIO for the intelligence community, leading modernization efforts for the IC Information Technology Enterprise with a focus on cloud adoption, data sharing and cybersecurity integration.

Her career includes global operational experience, including deployments in war zones and assignments in Tokyo, as well as extensive work strengthening partnerships across agencies and with international allies.

Jones is also a familiar voice within the GovCon community, having spoken at multiple Potomac Officers Club and Executive Mosaic events. She is scheduled to return as a keynote speaker at the 2026 Intel Summit on Sept. 24, where she will share insights on the future of intelligence technology. Save your spot now to hear the latest about the CIA’s tech efforts.

Why Is La’Naia Jones Winning a 2026 Wash100 Award?

Jones is being recognized for her role in shaping how the CIA and broader intelligence community approach emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data-driven decision-making.

She has consistently framed technology as a strategic lever for mission success, describing it as a “disruptor, enabler and force multiplier.”

Her approach balances innovation with discipline. Jones has emphasized that AI adoption must remain grounded in mission outcomes and human oversight.

“We’re [using AI] to meet the mission, not become the Matrix,” she said during a Potomac Officers Club forum in 2024.

Jones has also been a vocal advocate for public-private collaboration. She has described the private sector as “like a second family,” highlighting the depth of collaboration between government and contractors.

This philosophy has helped position the CIA as both a consumer and driver of innovation, influencing how agencies across government approach digital transformation.

What Are Some of La’Naia Jones’ Recent Accomplishments?

While much of the CIA’s work remains classified, Jones has offered rare public insight into how the agency is operationalizing emerging technologies.

Under her leadership, the CIA has transitioned artificial intelligence from experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment. “We’re really using [AI] at all aspects of the agency,” Jones said in a June 2025 interview on Fed Gov Today, noting applications across cybersecurity, finance and human resources.

The agency has adopted a hybrid model that blends proprietary tools with commercial AI capabilities, allowing it to balance security requirements with speed and scalability. Jones emphasized that speed is critical in intelligence operations, noting that faster delivery of insights can directly impact mission outcomes, Fed Gov Today reported.

This progress has been enabled by a strong cloud foundation. Jones pointed to the CIA’s commercial cloud enterprise as a key enabler of AI, providing the compute power and data accessibility needed to scale advanced analytics, according to Fed Gov Today.

Her more recent remarks build on priorities she outlined earlier in her tenure, particularly around data and automation. Jones previously described the ability to “normalize, rationalize and understand” massive data volumes as the “next big milestone” for the intelligence community.

She has also consistently emphasized cybersecurity as a top priority, warning that agencies must ensure sensitive data is not leveraged by adversaries.

Together, these efforts reflect a broader strategy centered on scalable infrastructure, data-driven decision-making and secure adoption of emerging technologies.

What Impact Does CIA Have on GovCon?

The CIA plays a critical role in shaping how the GovCon ecosystem approaches advanced technology adoption, particularly in classified and mission-critical environments.

Jones has highlighted the agency’s commercial cloud enterprise as a “gateway for other edge solutions,” pointing to its role in enabling technologies for contested and bandwidth-constrained environments at the aforementioned 2024 POC event.

The agency’s early investments in cloud and its current push into AI have helped establish a blueprint for other federal organizations. Its partnerships with industry have demonstrated how commercial capabilities can be adapted for highly secure, mission-driven use cases.

Jones’ leadership also signals where demand is heading across GovCon. Her focus on AI, cybersecurity, data integration and edge computing aligns closely with the priorities of defense and intelligence agencies, creating opportunities for contractors to support next-generation missions.

As the 2026 Wash100 season continues, Jones’ recognition highlights the growing importance of technology leadership within national security.

There are only a limited number of days left to participate in the 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote Competition. Cast your vote today and support La’Naia Jones as one of the most impactful leaders shaping the future of GovCon.