Danielle Franklin
Danielle Franklin is a multidisciplinary innovator whose career spans aerospace, defense, artificial intelligence, and human-centered research. Trained as an engineer and educated at the University of Maryland, she brings more than two decades of experience across government and industry, including work in space systems, missile defense, digital engineering, modeling and simulation, and emerging AI technologies. Her professional journey has been driven by a lifelong curiosity about “why” and a commitment to building systems that serve both technical excellence and human understanding.
After nearly twenty years with the U.S. Department of Defense—where she held senior strategic and architectural roles during the formation of the Space Force—Danielle transitioned into industry, joining NVIDIA to lead AI strategy for Department of Defense accounts. In parallel, she founded Humanity + AI, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bridging humanity, technology, and higher understanding through education, research, and inclusive innovation. Her work consistently emphasizes practical, values-driven applications of AI that empower people rather than replace them.
Danielle is also an author, educator, and artist, currently writing A Science of the Canine Mind, a forthcoming book series launching in fall 2025 that explores cognition, communication, and emotional signaling through the lens of canine intelligence. This work—alongside her groundbreaking Project ROSIE research—aims to deepen understanding of non-verbal communication and expand how humans relate to other species, ultimately informing more empathetic and expressive AI systems. Today, Danielle dedicates her energy to helping others grow, advancing interdisciplinary research, and pursuing the work that inspires her most.
• Contracts Officer Representative
• Level III ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT
• Level III TEST AND EVALUATION
• Level II PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
• University of Maryland- Master's
• University of Maryland- Bachelor's
• Honored Listee-
Marquis Who's Who
• AIAA
• ASCIA
• Scientology Religion
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the early influence of my grandmother, father, and brother, along with strong mentorship, a lifelong curiosity for technology, hands-on experience across government and industry, and a deep commitment to continuous learning and exploration.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received was to keep going and keep learning—reinforced by a mentor who shared that a PhD hadn’t meaningfully helped him, which encouraged me to pursue applied work and self-directed discovery instead.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t give up—don’t fear anything and confront fear daily; cultivate balance, self-understanding, and self-love, and train in AI in ways that align with your passions and goals rather than applying tools indiscriminately.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is public fear and misunderstanding of AI—especially around robotics, loss of nuance in AI-generated communication, and cultural and linguistic inclusion—while the greatest opportunities lie in nonprofit grant funding and building human-centered, emotionally expressive, and culturally aware AI applications, including new frontiers like canine communication technology.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Curiosity, humanity, fearlessness, and compassion guide both my work and my life—grounded in self-understanding, continuous learning, and a deep commitment to improving communication and connection, including how we understand and communicate with animals, especially dogs.