As the Agency’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Director of the Information Technology Enterprise (D/ITE), La’Naia J. Jones is responsible for all Agency IT systems and personnel, as well as the global communications network. Ms. Jones brings valuable leadership, technical expertise, knowledge, and global experience to the position.
Most recently, Ms. Jones served as both the National Security Agency’s Deputy CIO and their Information Sharing and Safeguarding Executive. In those roles, she optimized NSA’s IT strategy for the CIO Inspector General and Policy, IT Accessibility, Chief Information Security Officer, and Chief Data Officer portfolios. With over 19 years of NSA experience in leadership and technical roles across several mission areas, Ms. Jones managed the oversight for IT investments and acquisition programs, ensuring the secure and keen use of IT across NSA.
Prior to serving as NSA’s DCIO, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) designated Ms. Jones as the Acting CIO of the Intelligence Community (IC). As the Acting IC CIO, she led the modernization efforts to transform the IC Information Technology Enterprise (IC ITE) and other areas of the IC Information Environment (IC IE) through foundational cloud capabilities, data sharing, and cybersecurity.
Throughout her career, Ms. Jones served four years in Tokyo, supported mission while deployed in various war zones, and visited many of the government’s global operating locations, providing broad technical expertise, background, and experience to ensure the security and protection of the IC IT landscape. Ms. Jones also designed and integrated collaborative infrastructures as well as strengthened foreign relationships and enhanced domestic partnerships through resolution of complex, multifaceted IT entanglements of technology organizations.
Ms. Jones has a dual Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a Master of Science in Technology Management from the University of Maryland, Global Campus. Ms. Jones is a Maryland native, growing up throughout Anne Arundel County and currently residing in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Her wealth of valuable knowledge and experience is critical for ensuring that CIA harnesses rapidly evolving digital technology and strengthens key partnerships to advance our mission.