Diana Dragon Tapped to Lead Sovereign AI Startup AdaptKey

Dragon steps into the role at a critical juncture for the Los Angeles-based startup, which recently gained industry traction after being showcased by NVIDIA at DTW Ignite 2026. Her primary objective involves steering AdaptKey away from general-purpose chatbots toward agentic AI models. These systems are designed to operate securely within a client’s internal environment, relying on private datasets rather than the public internet to drive enterprise utility.

Her appointment draws on a career path that bridges intelligence gathering and corporate strategy. Before joining AdaptKey, Dragon served as Director of Global Crisis Resources at eBay and held senior intelligence roles at Standard Industries and bp. Her professional foundation was built during a twelve-year tenure at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she served as an Operations Officer and Chief of Station. Larraine Segil, CEO of the Exceptional Women Alliance, noted that Dragon’s transition reflects the agility required to move from high-stakes crisis management to leading a pioneering technology enterprise. Dragon remains active in mentorship, serving on the board of Girl Security, and credits her network within the EWA for providing the strategic support necessary to navigate these career shifts.