Craig Williams is Vice President and Chief Digital Information Officer at Ciena, where he oversees Ciena's Information Technology (IT) organization, Data & Analytics, Architecture, and Digital Transformation departments. Craig is a transformational leader who strives to leverage IT as a competitive advantage for Ciena.

Under Craig's guidance, his team develops and executes strategies to ensure that Ciena's systems effectively support the business, drive growth, and comply with policies and regulations.

Since joining the company in 2016, Craig has led a comprehensive IT transformation, revitalizing internal systems and cultivating a culture of continuous learning and innovation. His team implements advanced data and artificial intelligence technologies to drive business process re-engineering initiatives. As an early adopter of AI, Craig and his team have partnered with several groups across Ciena to identify and explore over 250 AI ideas, positioning the company at the forefront of innovation and solutions delivery. These ideas have been incorporated into proof-of-concepts and projects, revolutionizing the company's go-to-market approach and driving operational excellence improvements.

With over 25 years of experience, Craig has demonstrated his expertise in design leadership and the implementation and support of emerging technologies across diverse industries. He has achieved remarkable success in sectors such as High-Tech, Department of Defense (DoD) and Commercial industries.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Administration in Computer Information Systems from James Madison University and a Master of Science in Information & Telecommunication Systems from Johns Hopkins University.