Joseph M. Tonon
Dr. Joseph M. Tonon is vice president and director of CNA’s Strategy, Policy, Plans, and Programs Division. He has served in a large number of senior positions related to national security in the Pentagon, nonprofit institutions, academia, and industry. His most recent positions in the Department of Defense include Director for Intelligence in the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, and Senior Executive for Analysis and Tradecraft to the Director of Naval Intelligence.
In these roles, Dr. Tonon has specialized in machine learning and artificial intelligence, special operations, cybersecurity, intelligence, and counterterrorism. In a successful effort to prevent the loss of critical data and technology from the Department of the Navy and the defense industrial base, he established the task force Neptune Silo and expanded it into the Protecting Critical Technology Task Force.
For his service, Dr. Tonon has been awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service, the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Dr. Tonon earned his doctorate and master’s degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester.
