Christina Rhylander

Christina Rhylander is a Senior Software Acquisition Innovation Specialist in the Software Solutions Division's Transforming Software Acquisition Practice & Policy directorate at the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute (SEI). She specializes in applying innovations to policy and software acquisition programs to influence acquisition strategies and digital transformation initiatives across the Department of Defense (DoD). She also contributes to software modernization, workforce development, change management, and research projects meant to improve acquisition outcomes.

Prior to joining the SEI, Rhylander spent two years at Fearless in Baltimore, working at the intersection of technical strategy, organizational development, change management, and systems optimization to support clients navigating complex digital transformation efforts.

Rhylander also spent three years at MITRE as a Senior Agile Acquisition and Digital Transformation subject-matter expert. In that role, she partnered with technical and acquisition executives across the DoD to deliver innovative solutions that improved knowledge, capability, speed, and agility. She also designed and piloted software acquisition training programs aimed at enhancing the staff’s technical understanding and behavior across the Defense Acquisition ecosystem.

Before her work in the private sector, Rhylander spent over 20 years as a DoD civilian. Her roles spanned software program management, logistics, contracting, and policy. She supported a range of major defense platforms and initiatives, including

• Air Force ISR and aircraft platforms: KC-135 Digitization of Technical Orders; Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) 10.2; Cooperative DRAGON Program for AWACS; Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) on A-10, Global Hawk, and MQ-9; Lynx SAR Radar on MQ-9; and the F-35.
• Enterprise IT and software modernization: Air Force Common Computing Environment (CCE, now Cloud One); Air Force Enterprise IT as a Service (EITaaS); co-founder of the Air Force BESPIN software factory.
• Navy roles: Navy HR Specialist; Program Manager and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) supporting ship repair at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

Rhylander is passionate about aligning acquisition strategy and technology execution to accelerate the delivery and flow of mission-critical outcomes across the government. She holds an MBA from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Human Resources Management from Park University.