Innovation leader and Forbes Top 50 AI in Government Influencer Colonel (Ret.) Jen Sovada is the President of SandboxAQ’s Public Sector focused on Government issues at the nexus of quantum physics and AI to help solve problems that are not possible with classical computing today. Prior to her position at SandboxAQ, she was the Chief Futures Officer and Senior Vice President / General Manager for the Intelligence Community (IC) start-up MissionTech Solutions which was acquired by Avantus Federal in November 2020.

Jen is a retired Air Force Officer whose career in Intelligence focused on higher-end technological capabilities. She’s held various positions in operational test, systems interoperability, and requirements definition. In her last job in the Air Force, Jen served as the Chief of Talent Management for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, where she was responsible for the career development of over 35,000 Airmen. Jen also served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for ISR and conducted outreach to the private sector where she fostered communication and transparency to enable improved DoD, IC, and USAF strategy development, acquisition, tech advancements and operational capability. In this role she helped to develop and grow the DoD’s innovation community by serving as an advisor to AFWERX, the Defense Innovation Board and the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Jen also serves as the Chairwoman of the Board for the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, President of the National Intelligence University Alumni Association, as well as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Intelligence University Foundation.