WHAT IS A FRACTIONAL AI OFFICER?

The term "Fractional AI Officer" — sometimes abbreviated as fCAIO is relatively new. But the model it describes is well-established in the executive services market. You may already be familiar with the Fractional CFO or Fractional CISO model. The Fractional AI Officer is the same concept applied to AI governance leadership.

The Simple Definition

A Fractional AI Officer is a senior AI governance professional who serves your organization on a part-time, retainer, or project basis providing the expertise and leadership of a Chief AI Officer without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

The "fractional" part means they're not exclusive to your organization. They may serve multiple clients simultaneously, bringing cross-sector experience and perspective that a dedicated hire often lacks.

What a Fractional AI Officer Does

The scope of an fCAIO engagement varies by organization, but typically includes some combination of the following:

• →AI Governance Charter Development — defining your organization's AI principles, oversight structure, and accountability framework
• →AI Risk Register & Inventory — cataloging AI systems in use, assessing risk levels, and establishing monitoring protocols
• →Policy Development — acceptable use policies, AI procurement standards, vendor assessment frameworks
• →Regulatory Alignment — mapping your AI program to OMB AI policy, NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001, or sector-specific requirements
• →Stakeholder Briefings — translating AI governance requirements into language that executives, boards, and contracting officers can act on
• →Ongoing Advisory — monthly or quarterly check-ins to keep your governance program current

Who It's For

The fCAIO model is the right fit for a specific set of organizations:

• →Federal agencies required to comply with OMB AI policy but without a designated CAIO function
• →Defense contractors and GovCon firms whose customers are asking about AI governance
• →Mid-market enterprises deploying AI tools without a governance framework
• →Healthcare, financial services, and legal organizations facing sector-specific AI risk requirements
• →Organizations that need to demonstrate AI governance maturity to win contracts or pass audits

What It's Not

A Fractional AI Officer is not a technology consultant. They're not there to select AI tools, build AI models, or manage your data infrastructure. Their focus is governance — the structures, policies, and oversight mechanisms that ensure AI is used responsibly and in compliance with applicable requirements.

"The fCAIO model is not a workaround. For most organizations at this stage of AI maturity, it's the right model — full stop."

How DLSS Delivers fCAIO Services

DLSS fCAIO engagements are structured around your organization's specific needs, regulatory environment, and AI maturity level. We begin with an assessment, build a governance roadmap, and then work alongside your team to implement the governance structures that your organization needs.

Our fCAIO advisors bring direct experience with DoD, federal civilian agencies, and enterprise organizations with credentials that include CISM, CISSP, CRISC, PMI-ACP and the emerging AAIR™ (AI Auditing and Implementation Risk) certification.