Dr. Don Widener

Chief Technology Officer, Intelligence Solutions

BAE Systems

Dr. Don Widener is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for BAE Systems’ Intelligence Solutions business area. He is responsible for defining strategies to accelerate the adoption of key technology priorities for the Intelligence & Security (I&S) Sector, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and automation to augment BAE Systems’ more than 3000 engineers and intelligence analysts supporting the Intelligence Community (IC) today. As CTO, he also directly supports several major programs focused on Supply Chain, Threat Intelligence, and Cloud services while leading the I&S Advanced Analytics Laboratory driving innovation into mission-enabling solutions.
Prior to this role, Dr. Widener served as Chief Engineer of the Global Analysis business area and Technical Director of the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) portfolio which he grew from four employees to over 800 providing Full Motion Video (FMV) Imagery Intelligence Analysis for counterterrorism operations. As a technology leader, he successfully transitioned numerous research projects involving platforms, sensors, and software. Dr. Widener has also led the application and use of new analysis and data management methods, such as activity-based intelligence and structured observation management for software development.
Dr. Widener joined BAE Systems in 2002 after serving in several leadership positions for the U.S. Department of Defense. He served as the Branch Chief of ISR Assessments for U.S. Forces-Iraq, responsible for tracking and validating ISR platform and mission assessments and driving ISR collection strategy and asset utilization for the region. He also conducted counterterrorism targeting operations for the U.S. Air Force while stationed in Hawaii. At the U.S. Army’s Night Vision Laboratory, Dr. Widener supported sensor /system development and acquisition initiatives.
Dr. Widener completed his Ph.D. in systems engineering from The George Washington University and currently serves as an adjunct professor. He also holds a bachelor of science in imagery intelligence technology from Wayland University, and a master’s of science in systems engineering management from The George Washington University.

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