Empowering the Defense Acquisition Workforce to Improve Mission Outcomes Using Data Science

The effective use of data science - the science and technology of extracting value from data - improves, enhances, and strengthens acquisition decision-making and outcomes. Using data science to support decision making is not new to the defense acquisition community; its use by the acquisition workforce has enabled acquisition and thus defense successes for decades. Still, more consistent and expanded application of data science will continue improving acquisition outcomes, and doing so requires coordinated efforts across the defense acquisition system and its related communities and stakeholders. Central to that effort is the development, growth, and sustainment of data science capabilities across the acquisition workforce.At the request of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Empowering the Defense Acquisition Workforce to Improve Mission Outcomes Using Data Science assesses how data science can improve acquisition processes and develops a framework for training and educating the defense acquisition workforce to better exploit the application of data science. This report identifies opportunities where data science can improve acquisition processes, the relevant data science skills and capabilities necessary for the acquisition workforce, and relevant models of data science training and education.Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Defense Acquisition Process, Data, and Workforce: The Short Version3 Data Science and the Data Life Cycle: The Short Version4 Data Science in DoD Acquisition5 Data Life Cycle Mindset, Skillset, and Toolset: Roles and Teams6 Preparing and Sustaining a Data-Capable Defense Acquisition Workforce7 Findings, Conclusions, and RecommendationsAppendixesAppendix A: Meeting and Workshop AgendasAppendix B: Defense Acquisition NotesAppendix C: Data Science Case Studies in Defense AcquisitionAppendix D: Skills for Data Science MasteryAppendix E: Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations, and AcronymsAppendix F: Committee Member Biographies