The Department of Defense has established a new advisory group to supervise the delivery of capabilities to the field.
Stood up by Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu, a 2024 Wash100 Award winner, the Transition Tracking Action Group will use data analytics to evaluate and enhance DOD business processes, the department said Wednesday.
DOD R&E Chief Data Officer Cyrus Jabbari, who will serve as chair of the unit, noted that limited visibility “impedes efficiency and delivery of the best capabilities for troops and the Joint Force.”
“Our goal is to help the Department of Defense connect data systems to create a common operating picture, which will help deliver the right capability to the Joint Force,” Jabbari said.
The TTAG will use data analytics tools infused with artificial intelligence and machine learning to carry out its function. By harnessing these technologies, the group will get a detailed overview of DOD business practices and identify areas in which modifications are necessary.
More specifically, TTAG will determine policy updates and data source revisions for tracking technology transitions; conduct research and analysis to map data relationships across the R&E lifecycle; and deal with priority tracking issues as mandated by members or higher authority.
Three major objectives — identifying opportunities and barriers in tracking technology transitions, employing data to monitor these transitions and developing requisite processes and policies — will guide TTAG’s work.
“This initiative will not only facilitate the delivery of the right capabilities to the Joint Force but also ensure efficient stewardship of taxpayer funds,” Jabbari added.