When the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced its new data strategy in September 2020, much of what the department is aiming to do sounds familiar to people with experience in private sector information technology. 

The DoD plans to transform into a data-centric organization and use data to help the department fulfill a number of missions, from better preparedness and improved outcomes on the battlefield to more efficient operation and procurement. 

To help accomplish these goals, the DoD recognizes the importance of being able to locate, access, and make available data at speed and scale. This is a significant challenge because the DoD is the largest agency in the U.S. government and certainly one of the most complex organizations in all of the world. With 1.3 million active-duty troops across its branches, 750,000 civilian employees, and 811,000 National Guard and reserve troops, the DoD is the largest employer in the nation. 

The DoD’s strategy outlines guiding principles, which include data governance, stewardship, ethics, collection, compliance, and data for artificial intelligence training. It also lists four essential capabilities: Architecture, Standards, Governance, and Talent and Culture.