Army Command, Artificial Intelligence: Indira Rice Donegan Navigates Leadership and Responsibility
Member Spotlight Interview: Indira Rice Donegan
April 2026 | Washington, D.C. Chapter
Leadership often reveals its true character in moments of pressure and responsibility. For Indira Rice Donegan of the Legatus Washington, D.C. Chapter, those moments have come through decades of service in the United States Army and now through her work shaping emerging technologies that influence national security.
In both arenas, Indira has found that faith provides the clarity needed to lead well. Whether commanding soldiers or discerning the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, her Catholic formation has remained the foundation for how she approaches authority, responsibility, and service.
Her story offers a powerful reminder that in every field, from the battlefield to the frontiers of innovation, faith can remain the steady compass guiding a life of leadership.
Command, Responsibility, and the Anchor of Faith
During her two decades of service in the United States Army, Indira Rice Dongean led soldiers, worked on major defense technology initiatives, and carried responsibilities where decisions often carried life-altering consequences.
In those moments, her Catholic faith was not simply a private belief. It was the foundation that steadied her.
“My faith was critical to my success,” she reflects. “Often times it was the only thing that tethered me to reality, keeping me calm and focused during the dizzying operational tempo of military life.”
Military leadership requires more than strategy and discipline. It demands care for the people entrusted to you and the humility to recognize the weight of that responsibility. Donegan found her model in Christ.
“My Catholic faith reminded me that leadership is fundamentally about service. Christ modeled servant leadership, and that example influenced how I tried to approach command and teamwork.”
The Faith That Was Formed in Family and Friendship
Indira’s faith journey began with the steady witness of her parents, whose consistent practice of Catholicism laid the foundation early in life.
Over the years, mentors and friends deepened that foundation. Military chaplains and fellow officers, including Major Ryan Gillis, demonstrated that faith could be lived authentically even in the demanding environment of military service.
But one of the most significant influences in her life has been her husband, Mike.
“In our early years, Mike always made sure I went to Mass, no matter how frustrated, tired, or emotionally spent I felt,” she says. “Having a spouse who seeks Christ like that is the reason we are still married today.”
Today the couple often attends daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration together. Alongside these practices, Donegan also credits Catholic teachers and evangelists such as Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, Dr. Scott Hahn, and Mother Angelica for helping her deepen her understanding of Scripture and the richness of the Church.
“Faith is not just something you practice on Sunday,” she says. “It is something you must carry into every minute and every part of your life.”
Navigating AI, National Security, and the Moral Weight of Innovation
Today, Indira works at the intersection of technology, government, and innovation, helping shape systems that influence national security and society. In particular, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence presents complex ethical questions for those responsible for developing and guiding these technologies.
“This is a heavy burden for those of us discerning the impact of AI and the ethics of AI,” she says. Her Catholic faith offers an essential framework for navigating those questions. Technology, she believes, must ultimately serve the dignity of the human person and the common good.
“Just because we can build something does not mean we should do so without reflection,” she explains. “Faith helps provide that framework for thinking about the right use of power and responsibility.”
Discovering Legatus and the Power of Catholic Community
When Indira first attended a dinner with the Legatus chapter in Washington, D.C., she admits she had never heard of the organization before.
But that first evening made a lasting impression.
“I had tried many forms of adult faith formation—books, online learning, Bible studies,” she explains. “But none of them offered what Legatus offers to a Catholic professional striving to know, love, and serve Christ with all my heart.”
For Indira, Legatus provides something rare: a place where faith and professional life naturally intersect. The fellowship, speakers, and conversations encourage members to integrate their beliefs into leadership and daily work.
“God designed us to be together and in communion with one another,” she says. “I truly see Legatus as a ministry.”
Looking back on her journey through military service, technological leadership, and deepening faith, Indira now sees God’s guidance more clearly than ever. Every challenge, every relationship, and every unexpected turn has helped shape the path that ultimately brought her closer to Christ.
Yet she emphasizes that her story is not one of perfection. Like all Christians striving to follow Christ, she sees her life as an ongoing work in progress. “I have had many failures along the way,” she says. “But God’s grace continues to work on me every day, helping me keep my eyes on Him.” For Indira, that truth ultimately offers hope: that while we are all sinners, Christ has already paid the ultimate price for our redemption and with perseverance and faith, we can continue striving together toward the holiness.