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1 Introduction
Pages 6-18

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From page 6...
... To that end, this report explores the critical roles for data within the defense acquisition system, the importance of aligning and operationalizing a data strategy to improve acquisition processes and insights, and approaches toward developing an acquisition workforce better able to apply data-driven methods to their work and interpret their results. Data alone will not remedy many of the complex problems facing 6
From page 7...
... HARNESSING DATA FOR DEFENSE ACQUISITION Data science -- the multidisciplinary field that encompasses the technologies, processes, and systems to extract knowledge and insight from data and enable data-informed decision making under uncertainty, to be discussed later in this report -- has become a pervasive and transformative field unto itself over the past decade. Building a skilled workforce that is able to apply and adapt to the quickly evolving domain of data science
From page 8...
... . Each of these seven broad goals is relevant to the defense acquisition system.
From page 9...
... As DoD acquisition contemplates the use of data science teams in support of its acquisition workforce, the cost and challenges of recruiting sophisticated data scientists may be a driver in how many and where such teams are established and the mix of talent between military, civil service, and contracted specialists. In spite of the recruiting and retention challenges in the data science, an increasing number of the defense acquisition teams are embracing aspects of data science -- in particular, the use of data and data analysis -- and are reaping the benefits.
From page 10...
... These analytic results provide rigorous cost benchmarks for acquisition programs, enabling costs comparisons, affordability analysis, and more reliable cost estimates and budgeting. By having reliable benchmarks, DoD program managers and planners are in a stronger position to request realistic budgetary profiles and negotiate prices with prime contractors, sometimes result­ ing in billions of dollars of savings and cost avoidance.
From page 11...
... Moreover, the pool of data science experts that understand defense acquisition is small. These
From page 12...
... During the April 2020 National Academies workshop on "Improving Defense Acquisition Workforce Capability in Data Use," Mr. Tom Sasala, the chief data officer for the Department of the Navy, noted that two of the Navy's key challenges are that (1)
From page 13...
... Adopting a data-informed approach to acquisition processes and management will require fundamental changes across DoD, and senior DoD leaders have an important role to play in making that vision a reality. The successful use and application of data are often facilitated by leaders who value data and encourage their use and who have secured some resources, established a routine workflow, and acquired personnel with the necessary skills for applying aspects of data science to acquisition, most commonly data analytics.
From page 14...
... The USD(A&S) has provided strong verbal support for data-informed decision making in defense acquisition -- the following are just a few such
From page 15...
... Given the recent adoption of the DoD Data Strategy 2020 Action Plan and the strong support from leadership, defense acquisition is wellpositioned -- from a policy perspective -- to strengthen its data infrastructure and data-centric skills of its workforce. Finding 1.1: By making decisions informed by data, leadership sets an example that can promote the cultural changes necessary to facilitate data-informed decisions across the entire department.
From page 16...
... Chapter 4 explores the current uses of data in defense acquisition and identifies opportunities to exploit data and improve program and institutional performance. Chapter 5 identifies the portfolio of skills and organizational options for data science teams, and how supervisors with non-technical 3  Recently renamed just "DAU."
From page 17...
... 2019. "Recommendation 89: Direct DoD to consolidate or eliminate competing data architectures within the defense acquisition and financial sys tem." Report of the Advisory Panel on Streamlining and Codifying Acquisition Regula tions.
From page 18...
... 2020. "Perspectives from the Chief Data Officers." Presentation at the Workshop on Improving Defense Acquisition Workforce Capability.


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