ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Over the past several years, the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command has taken significant steps to increase the ways in which it can support Army leadership. Chief among them is the evolution of data analytics as a strategic initiative. As CECOM has shifted toward becoming a more data-centric organization, it has implemented new tools and technologies that are enhancing operational efficiency through better supply chain optimization and resource management.
Christopher McKay, CECOM’s Chief Technology Officer and Chief of the Architecture and Enterprise Applications Division, oversees a dynamic group that works closely with both external stakeholders and numerous entities within CECOM, such as the Integrated Logistics Support Center, Tobyhanna Army Depot, and Software Engineering Center. In the specific case of the ILSC, Supply Chain Management Directorate Data Analytics and Reporting Branch Chief Keith Weber and his team are optimizing supply chains through the development and application of data analytics tools which drive innovation in workforce transparency and management initiatives.
Instead of accepting a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, the ILSC is rapidly enhancing analytics capabilities by utilizing specialized data sets that can be generated through programs like PowerBI and Vantage. “PowerBI provides a flexible and intuitive platform for creating customized resources,” said Weber, “and its seamless connectivity to SharePoint and Vantage resources have made our design process more streamlined and efficient. This enables us to develop targeted solutions to meet our customers’ unique needs, driving greater value and impact.” As the ILSC continues to transform amidst the application of data analytics, the command is increasing the Center’s ability to keep pace with the changing needs of the United States Army.
“Enhanced collaboration across different directorates and with external stakeholders, such as AMC and its major subordinate commands, has facilitated the sharing of best practices, governance, and data,” McKay said. McKay’s team is ensuring that all stakeholders have the same reference points and available data at their disposal.
McKay also points to new Chief Data Analytics Officer Dr. Allison Marier as an influential force in the ongoing collaboration. Marier is meeting with data stewards across the command and working to phase out the kind of siloed decision-making that was undertaken in the past. These efforts are fully ushering in the collective approach that lines up with the continuous transformation that the Army needs for 2030 and beyond.
With predictive analytics and machine learning models already in practice, McKay and his team are striving toward a future that, he says, will feature “near real-time data dashboards for instant insights and decision-making, as well as cloud-based solutions for better data accessibility and collaboration.”
None of this would be possible without complete buy-in from other parties, and McKay is happy to report that to be the case. “We are already seeing increased collaboration both internally and with external stakeholders, leading to more cohesive and effective operations.” Weber agrees, calling McKay’s weekly tech talks “a valuable resource in providing insights into ideas and tactics that leverage the capabilities of the MS Power Suite.”
Along with other major subordinate commands under AMC who have been invaluable colleagues, CECOM and its partners from within the command such as the ILSC, TYAD, and SEC continue to strengthen their abilities in the realm of data analytics. In this way, they are improving their delivery of near real-time data to the hands of senior leaders and providing meaningful change for our warfighters.
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