Full Name
Frank Hudson
Job Title
Director of the Information Technology and Applications Center
Company
NIH
Speaker Bio
James “Frank” Hudson Jr. is an experienced executive with over 30 years of leadership in defense, government, and industry, including a distinguished 22-year career as a U.S. Air Force officer. He has a proven record of shaping enterprise strategy, driving digital transformation, and guiding organizations through complex operational and technological changes.
Currently, he serves as the Director of the Information Technology and Applications Center at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), where he leads IT strategy, scientific informatics, data platforms, and AI initiatives to advance biomedical research. He authored NHLBI’s Science IT Strategic Plan and is partnering with NIH leadership to establish a framework for secure and responsible data sharing across the Institutes, accelerating advances in artificial intelligence, policy innovation, and next-generation research analytics.
Previously, Mr. Hudson held senior executive service roles in the Department of Defense (DOD). At Joint Force Headquarters–DOD Information Network, he directed DOD enterprise-wide cybersecurity modernization. While at the Defense Information Systems Agency, he codified the Agency’s five-year Strategic Plan and oversaw global cyber and network operations. As Pacific Air Forces Chief Technology and Data Officer, he pioneered hybrid cloud, 5G, and zero trust architectures to modernize command and control across the Indo-Pacific theater.
He is a graduate of the IRS Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, where he advanced digital modernization, hybrid cloud adoption, and enterprise data integration. Mr. Hudson holds multiple bachelor’s degrees in criminology, psychology, and computer science; an MBA; and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College. Additionally, he has completed senior executive education in public policy, engineering, and business at the University of Southern California and the University of North Carolina.
Currently, he serves as the Director of the Information Technology and Applications Center at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), where he leads IT strategy, scientific informatics, data platforms, and AI initiatives to advance biomedical research. He authored NHLBI’s Science IT Strategic Plan and is partnering with NIH leadership to establish a framework for secure and responsible data sharing across the Institutes, accelerating advances in artificial intelligence, policy innovation, and next-generation research analytics.
Previously, Mr. Hudson held senior executive service roles in the Department of Defense (DOD). At Joint Force Headquarters–DOD Information Network, he directed DOD enterprise-wide cybersecurity modernization. While at the Defense Information Systems Agency, he codified the Agency’s five-year Strategic Plan and oversaw global cyber and network operations. As Pacific Air Forces Chief Technology and Data Officer, he pioneered hybrid cloud, 5G, and zero trust architectures to modernize command and control across the Indo-Pacific theater.
He is a graduate of the IRS Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, where he advanced digital modernization, hybrid cloud adoption, and enterprise data integration. Mr. Hudson holds multiple bachelor’s degrees in criminology, psychology, and computer science; an MBA; and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College. Additionally, he has completed senior executive education in public policy, engineering, and business at the University of Southern California and the University of North Carolina.
Speaking At
