The Rear Admiral Grace Hopper Award
★ A Commitment to Inclusion ★
The Rear Admiral Grace Hopper Award is presented annually by the Chancellor of the College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) at National Defense University (NDU). This award recognizes distinguished individuals who are both thought leaders advancing the fields of information and cyberspace in the national security community, as well as those who have a track record of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in support of a strong workforce.
It is named in honor of "Amazing" Grace Hopper, an early and notable pioneer in computing who also served as an instructor at the Department of Defense (DOD) Computer Institute (DODCI), which is a previous name of CIC. Watch a former DODCI employee recount his experiences with Hopper here. Read an article about the dedication of our Hopper Auditorium here, which is where the inaugural award ceremony was held.
A selection committee (led by Assistant Professor Linda Jantzen and comprised of staff, faculty, and student representation) reviews nominated candidates and makes recommendations for selection by the CIC Chancellor. There is one recipient annually and they are provided the opportunity to share their insights with the CIC community as a lecture. The recipient must be a notable senior leader in the national security, information, and/or cyberspace fields who represents the pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This program directly supports the CIC and NDU educational mission, while also pursuing the spirit of the Military Leadership Diversity Commission Final Report (2011), DoD Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan (2012), DoD Women, Peace, and Security Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan (2020), and Executive Order 13985 “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” (2021).
The 2024 Recipient:
Lt. Gen. Mary O'Brien
Lt. Gen. Mary F. O’Brien is the Director of Command, Control, Communications and Computer/Cyber, and Chief Information Officer, J6, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She develops C4 capabilities, conducts analysis and assessments, provides Joint and Combined Force C4 guidance, and evaluates C4 requirements, plans, programs and strategies for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Lt. Gen. O'Brien received her commission in 1989, upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. She has served in a variety of command and staff assignments. Her commands include the 22nd Intelligence Squadron, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland; 691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Royal Air Force Menwith Hill, United Kingdom; 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Fort George G. Meade; and Twenty-Fifth Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Lt. Gen. O’Brien has also served in numerous staff leadership positions including the Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force Legislative Liaison, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and Air Force Space Command and served as the U.S. Cyber Command Director of Intelligence.
Prior to her current assignment, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff for ISR and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, responsible to the Secretary and Air Force Chief of Staff for policy formulation, planning, evaluation, oversight and leadership of Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber effects operations and electromagnetic spectrum superiority capabilities.
In October 2019, Lt. Gen. O’Brien volunteered to serve as the general officer champion for the Women’s Initiative Team. The WIT is a Department of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group charged with identifying barriers to women’s service and advocating for policy changes to eliminate those barriers.