By Kassie Garrett / DISA Enterprise Integration and Innovation
The “2023 Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy,” developed by the DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, revolves around seamlessly integrating data, analytics and AI into all aspects of defense operations. It establishes guidelines and standards for developing and deploying AI systems with transparency and accountability. This is crucial to the Defense Information Systems Agency as it creates the foundation and key steps to protect sensitive information and ensure compliance and integrity.
This adoption strategy is a response to President Joe Biden’s “Executive Order on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence,“ which emphasizes the critical importance of data, analytics and AI in modern warfare and decision-making. The adoption strategy unifies previous strategic guidance to scale advanced capabilities across the department.
“In the [Chief Digital and AI Office], we are responsible for accelerating the [United States Department of Defense’s] adoption of data analytics and AI, and ensuring scalable AI-driven solutions are delivered for enterprise and joint use cases,” said Chief Digital and AI Officer Craig Martell.
The adoption strategy encourages innovation and collaboration across the DOD ecosystems, including partnerships with industry, academia and allied nations. This collaborative approach enables DOD and DISA to leverage cutting-edge technologies and best practices in data, advanced analytics and AI to maintain technological superiority over adversaries.
Partnerships with leaders in this critical space will ensure that DISA global analysts and mission partners have increased data quality, security and interoperability across defense systems and platforms.
Over the past few years, the DISA Chief Data Office has made great progress in both data governance and data architecture. The strategy and policy foundations within the DISA Data Strategy Implementation Plan, the DISA Data Sharing Policy, and the DISA Data Catalog are all elements of the modern and maturing Chief Data Office.
By leveraging the adoption strategy, DISA will prioritize direction while using the adoption mechanisms to help shape the new DISA Data Strategy for fiscal years 2025-2027, currently being drafted.
The evolution of quality data and advanced analytics within the DISA community is the sole focus of the Chief Data Office and will empower the agency to harness AI technology and AI situational awareness, predictive intelligence and decision-making agility, thereby enhancing national security and organizational readiness.
The Chief Digital and AI Office has highlighted key points and facts to capture and implement the strategic guidance. Additional documentation supporting the adoption strategy fact sheet and executive order surrounding AI technology and strategic initiatives can be found here.