Francisco Salguero sees enterprise IT as more than an infrastructure challenge: It’s a critical part of the warfighter mission.
As director of Enterprise Information Technology in the Department of the Air Force’s Office of the Chief Information Officer, Salguero helps oversee a $28.9 billion IT portfolio supporting Air Force, Space Force and combatant command users worldwide, while also helping build the department’s civilian cyber workforce.
His path to that mission was not linear. After serving in the U.S. Army Reserve and building his technology career in the private sector, Salguero moved into federal service, where he found an opportunity to combine his technical expertise with a deeper sense of purpose. From leading digital modernization efforts at the Department of Agriculture to his work today supporting airmen and guardians, he has seen firsthand how technology can transform the way government operates, and why lasting change depends as much on people as it does on systems.
In this Q&A, Salguero reflects on the experiences that shaped his career in public service, the lessons he has learned about leading large-scale technology transformations and what continues to motivate him to modernize the digital capabilities that underpin the Air Force and Space Force missions.
Tell us about your current role and the mission you support. What does a typical day look like for you?
I am the Director, Enterprise IT within the Office of the Chief Information Officer for the Department of the Air Force.
I lead department-wide information technology strategy, policy, management, resourcing, and governance for a $28.9 billion IT portfolio, and the development of a 12,400 civilian cyber workforce, delivering warfighting capability to 680,000 Air Force, Space Force, and combatant command global users.
In this role, I am responsible for guiding enterprise-wide IT strategy, policy, management, resourcing, and governance for a $28.9 billion IT portfolio. My team and I work to ensure our Airmen and Guardians have secure and resilient technology tools to execute their warfighting and support missions globally.
A typical day involves collaborating with senior Air Force leaders, industry partners, and Department of War stakeholders to address complex IT challenges—balancing immediate system, cybersecurity posture, and infrastructure demands.
What drew you to public service? Was your path into government planned, or did it evolve over time?
Public service was something that I was drawn to early in my life, starting with my service in the U.S. Army Reserve.
My path into civil service evolved over time. After building my IT acumen through private sector technology roles early in my career, I found an opportunity to join federal service.
This is where my previous my true passion lay in using technology to solve large-scale problems that directly impact the nation. Joining civil service allowed me to combine my technical background with a deep sense of purpose, driving technology modernizations at agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Communications Commission, and now the Department of the Air Force.
Looking back, was there a pivotal moment, decision or experience that shaped your career in government?
For me, a pivotal moment in my career was leading major digital modernization efforts at the USDA during critical agency reorganizations and technology shifts. Seeing how modernizing legacy infrastructure and disparate systems directly improved the delivery of services to millions of citizens showed me the profound impact that enterprise IT leadership can have. It reinforced my commitment to driving bold, positive change in government technology rather than simply maintaining the status quo.
What does public service mean to you, and why is serving the nation and its citizens important to you?
Public service is about helping others and contributing to something greater than yourself.
To me, serving means leveraging my skills, background, and experience to strengthen the mission and agency that protects, serves, and supports our citizens. In the Department of the Air Force, every system we support and modernize and every network we secure ultimately enables our Airman and Guardian to accomplish their missions safely and effectively. I take great pride in knowing that our daily work directly impacts national security and the lives of service members.
What is one lesson you’ve learned in public service that has stayed with you throughout your career?
Technology is only as effective as the people who build, secure, and use it. Throughout my career in public service, I have learned that genuine digital transformation requires investing in your team, building trust across stakeholders, and maintaining clear, transparent communication. When you empower people and align them behind a shared vision, complex technical challenges become achievable.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in government today?
Jump in with an open mind and a commitment to continuous learning. Public service offers an unmatched opportunity to tackle complex, large-scale problems that you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t be afraid to take on difficult challenges or step outside your comfort zone, government needs innovative, mission-driven thinkers who are passionate about making a lasting difference. We need thinkers and innovators with a strategic and collaborative mindset.
What continues to motivate and inspire you in your work supporting the public mission?
What keeps me motivated is the dedicated workforce I get to serve alongside every day. The civilian personnel, military members, and industry partners. Seeing the tangible results of our IT modernization efforts and knowing that we are equipping the next generation of Airmen and Guardians with the digital capabilities they need to succeed.