David Caswell is Microsoft’s Senior Director for Critical Infrastructure within the Azure Special Capabilities and Critical Infrastructure group. As such, he oversees engineering efforts focused on improving the resilience and cyber security of customers operating within the 16 Critical Infrastructure sectors defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors). One of these 16 is the Commercial Facilities Sector, which includes a diverse range of sites that draw large crowds of people for shopping, business, entertainment, or lodging.

Prior to joining Microsoft, David was a Colonel in the United States Air Force where he culminated 20 years of service as the Permanent Professor and Head of the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences at the United States Air Force Academy. As the Department Head, he led the department to administer the ABET-accredited Computer Science and Cyber Science majors. In addition to teaching over 1,200 cadets annually he also led the Academy’s research program focused on the areas of Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence, Immersive Environments, Cyber System Security, and Business Process Automation.

Prior to serving as the Department Head, he was stood up and commanded the U.S. Air Force’s network operations center. In this role, he directed Air Force information network operations through synchronization of activities across the Cyberspace Security and Control Weapon System, the Air Force Intranet Control weapon system, and across all base communication squadrons. He earned his doctorate from Stanford University in Management Science and Engineering for Decision and Risk Analysis with a dissertation based on using artificial intelligence techniques to analyze national strategies for combatting nuclear weapons proliferation.

His background includes cyber security, software design and engineering, artificial intelligence and automation development, intelligence analysis, decision and risk analysis, and information operations.