Brigid O'Hearn

Brigid Petrie O’Hearn is a principal engineer and DoD Software Modernization Policy Lead at the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute (SEI). In her work at the Software Solutions Division’s Transforming Software Acquisition Policy and Practice Directorate, she coaches and mentors software acquisition program personnel, contributes to research projects, and influences DoD’s Software Modernization Strategy and Implementation, DoD software and cyber policy, and DoD software workforce initiatives.

O’Hearn shares her 30+ years of software expertise across many areas, including acquisition best practices, Agile implementation, software metrics, and navigating weapon system software-specific challenges. She has also helped DoD develop acquisition, software modernization, and workforce policy and guidance.

Before joining the SEI, O’Hearn had 20-years’ experience as a DoD civilian supporting both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy after a stint in industry. She held various software engineering, program management, and human capital assignments as well as top leadership roles in the Air Force Sustainment Center, Air Force Personnel Center, and Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. She worked on numerous DoD weapon systems software programs, including cargo aircraft (C-141, C-130, C-5, C-17), fighter aircraft (F-15, F-35), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms (JSTARS, DCGS, Predator, Reaper, Global Hawk). In 2018 she joined the F-35 Joint Program Office and became the first chief software officer; after that, she was the deputy chief of human capital.

O’Hearn is a proud graduate of the National Defense University's Eisenhower School and the DoD's Defense Senior Leader Development Program.

O’Hearn is a senior member of IEEE NDIA, and AFCEA. She earned a BS in computer science from Mercer University, an MS in logistics management from Georgia College & State University, and an MS in national resource strategy from the Eisenhower School of the National Defense University. O’Hearn is also a certified Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Program Consultant (SPC).