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How is the DoD Using Data to Further the National Defense Strategy? February 15, 2023

by Nicole Sokolowski

The Department of Defense (DoD) Data Strategy, which focuses on transforming DoD into a data-driven organization, supports the National Defense Strategy and Digital Modernization. According to the DoD Vision, it is essential that DoD, as a data-centric organization, uses data to increase efficiency and operational advantage.

Focus areas include working with data users in the operational community to use data to (1) improve DoD management (e.g., senior leaders’ decision support) and (2) make informed decisions (e.g., business analytics capabilities).

The DoD Vision sees DoD as a data-centric organization, using data to increase efficiency and operational advantage.

Key guiding principles underlying DoD data efforts embrace:

  • Enterprise-Wide Data Access and Availability: Ensure DoD data is available to all authorized users with appropriate protocols.
  • Data Ethics: Apply ethical standards to data use, storage and collection.
  • Data Is a Strategic Asset: Leverage data as an advantage to DoD.

Essential capabilities for goal accomplishment include:

  • Standards: Formal approaches for sharing data.
  • Governance: Frameworks, policies, tools and oversight for managing data.
  • Architecture: Infrastructure, which may include the cloud, for making data access and usage more agile.
  • Culture, Talent and Training: Activities for empowering DoD staff to make data-informed decisions and use data effectively.

Within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, the Office of Acquisition Data and Analytics (ADA) plays a major role in supporting DoD’s efforts to improve data analytics. According to its website, ADA helps address the challenges, solutions and best practices of all DoD data stakeholders. ADA also enables data visualization, machine learning and data analytics.

The Office of Acquisition Data and Analytics (ADA) enables data visualization, machine learning and data analytics for the DoD.

As the DoD and Electrosoft embrace the growing importance of data analytics, there is much to be learned about this field. Luckily, there are a number of training opportunities available (many are free). Advana offers free training material (see the text box for a link to the Advana Access Request Guide). In addition, the Defense Acquisition University offers classes on a variety of subjects including data science, machine learning and other data analytics topics.

REFERENCES

Defense Acquisition University | https://www.dau.edu

Office of Acquisition Data and Analytics (ADA) | https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/ae/ada/index.html

Office of Acquisition Data and Analytics (ADA) | Advana | https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/ae/ada/data-analytics.html

U.S. Department of Defense | DoD Data Strategy | https://media.defense.gov/2020/Oct/08/2002514180/-1/-1/0/DOD-DATA-STRATEGY.PDF

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