FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
Data is proof. It helps people make decisions, solve problems and achieve goals – at work and home.
At the Defense Logistics Agency, data is so powerful it's expected to shape everything from how employees manage the Defense Department's supply chains to how it partners with the industrial base and even improves workforce safety trends.
According to the
DLA Strategic Plan, data literacy is the ability to explore, understand and communicate with data meaningfully. Likewise, data acumen is the ability to use that data to solve problems by making good judgements.
"Being data-driven also develops a sense of questioning things," said Lisa Stevens, chief of staff for DLA Human Resources. "When you see a statement or situational report that says efficiency has improved, you start asking questions in your head. What improved efficiency? Did we improve delivery time? Did we improve packing time? What areas need more work? Data answers those questions.”
DLA Human Resources debuted a three-tiered training curriculum in September to help employees understand, interpret and use data. The training is the first of two phases and includes basic, intermediate and advanced courses.
"The goal with Phase 1 was to get something out the door in short order so the workforce could quickly begin building their data acumen," said David Sayre, deputy director of DLA Training. "We used many of the e-learning assets available in our training library and collaborated with data experts in DLA Information Operations to build the learning journeys available today."
Basic courses teach novices how to use data to make informed decisions and achieve better outcomes. Intermediate courses enable employees to delve deeper into analytic skills and uncover more nuanced insights and trends. Advanced courses then cultivate analytic capabilities so employees can uncover impactful insights, make accurate predictions and develop innovative solutions.
The training isn't mandatory for all employees, but annual operating plans for major subordinate commands and directorates outline which sections of the workforce must complete it. By mid-January, almost 6,000 course completions were logged, and leaders expect the number to almost double by April as training officials build the next training phase.
Joey Sneed, a safety and occupational health specialist at DLA Headquarters, completed all three levels. His office annually assembles safety inspection data and trend analysis reports for the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Snead said he now better understands how data acumen can help his office use the numbers and reports.
"As safety specialists, we're trying to determine overall trends and root causes. The data we collect can also help us analyze things like whether we need different equipment or more employee training," he said.
The basic courses were required for Zoryanna “Zoe” Siemer, a contracting officer in DLA Acquisition who helps manage FedMall, the agency's online ordering system. She said the training put into words what her team already does to make the program more user-friendly for DLA customers, and she plans to pursue more data acumen training as her mission allows.
"I'm excited to learn more about how I can use the tools presented to fine-tune the requirements I'm a part of," she added.
Those who aren’t required to take the training may still find it beneficial.
"Some of the tools are applicable in our personal lives. If you want to do a budget for yourself on your home computer, the training will help you navigate Excel spreadsheets so you can draw conclusions and make changes if necessary," Stevens said.
Sayre added that data has become especially critical in a time of worldwide digital transformation, and discovery isn't restricted to higher education. While assembling numbers in his home office for a weekly report he submits to his director, his 7-year-old daughter walked in.
"She goes, 'Oh, is that data?' So, it’s being taught even in first-grade classrooms," he said. "And from DLA's perspective, as our adversaries pursue greater capabilities, it’s definitely within our best interest be more data-centric."
Future training options
DLA Human Resources and DLA Information Operations are currently designing Phase 2 of the agency's data acumen training plan. It's expected to incorporate a variety of training approaches to align the workforce with DOD data initiatives, Sayre said, pointing to the DOD Data Strategy released in 2020 to accelerate the department's ability to use data for operational advantage and increased efficiency. DOD also released the 2023 Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy to further solidify the U.S.'s competitive advantage in fielding new technology.
"We're looking at interactive learning and project work," Sayre said. "We don't want future education to be standard sit-and-listen, check-the-box type of training. The goal is for employees to make a real impact as they learn."
Current courses are listed in all employees’ Featured Course section in DLA's Learning Management System. Featured courses are located on the left side of the page under the My Leaning, Links and Find Learning sections. DLA's Campaign of Learning webpage also provides more information on how data can be used in the logistics realm. And this video portrays how employees can use data to advance DLA's mission. A Common Access Card is required for all three resources.