DATAWorks 2023 – Defense and Aerospace Test and Analysis Workshop

Workshop Overview

The Defense and Aerospace Test and Analysis (DATA) Workshop is the result of a multi-organization collaboration with the Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), and the Section on Statistics in Defense and National Security (SDNS) of the American Statistical Association (ASA). The workshop is strategically designed to strengthen the community by applying rigorous statistical approaches to test design and data analysis in the fields of defense and aerospace.

The three-day workshop will showcase a combination of applied problems, unique methodological approaches, and tutorials from leading academics.

Our goal is to facilitate collaboration among all involved, including other government agencies.

Improving the Quality of Test & Evaluation

Talks under this theme may include (but are not limited to) the following topics: Design of Experiments, Integrated Testing, Sequential Testing, Model Based Systems Engineering, Digital Transformation

Advancing Test & Evaluation of Emerging and Prevalent Technologies

Talks under this theme may include (but are not limited to) the following topics: Cybersecurity, Autonomy & Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Systems, Software Systems, Space Systems, Hypersonics, Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations

Solving Program Evaluation Challenges

Talks under this theme may include (but are not limited to) the following topics: Sustainment, Data Management, Reproducible Research, Model and Simulation and Uncertainty Quantification, Reliability, Human System Interaction, DoD’s Five Data Decrees, Evaluating Mission Level Effects

Mark Your Calendar

Contributed Abstract Submission Closes: February 3rd
Registration Opens: January 30th
Registration Closes: April 14th
April 25-27: DATAWorks 2023!

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Abstract Submissions

Invited Abstracts
Contributed Abstracts

Keynote Speakers

Christine Fox

Senior Fellow
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Peter Coen

Mission Integration Manager
NASA

TBD

Short Course Instructors

“Introduction to Machine Learning”

Stephen Adams

Associate Research Professor
Virginia Tech National Security Institute

“Plotting and Programming in Python”

Software Carpentry Instructor

The Carpentries

“Present Your Science”

Melissa Marshall

Founder
Present Your Science

Course Title: Present Your Science

Workshop Theme: Sharing Analysis Tools, Methods, and Collaboration Strategies

Abstract: This comprehensive 1-day course equips scientists, engineers, researchers, and technical professionals to present their science in an understandable, memorable, and persuasive way. Through a dynamic combination of lecture, discussion, exercises, and video analysis, each participant will walk away with the skills, knowledge, and practice necessary to transform the way their work is presented. Five course objectives are covered:

Transform the scientific presentations skills of participants. Enable participants to utilize effective strategies for content, structure, slide design and delivery of scientific presentations.
Teach participants to analyze and adapt to their audience.
Help participants understand which scientific details to emphasize in their presentation and which details to filter out.
Equip participants to understand and enact the assertion evidence slide design in their own talks to make their scientific presentation slides more understandable, memorable, and engaging.
Assist participants in developing an engaging and confident delivery style.

*** Attendees should bring a laptop with them to the session. ***

Instructor Bio: Melissa Marshall is the leading expert on presenting complex ideas.

Melissa Marshall is on a mission: to transform how scientists, engineers, and technical professionals present their work. That’s because she believes that even the best science is destined to remain undiscovered unless it’s presented in a clear and compelling way that sparks innovation and drives adoption.

For a decade, she’s traveled around the world to work with Fortune 100 corporations, institutions and universities, teaching the proven strategies she’s mastered through her consulting work and during her decade as a faculty member at Penn State University.

In 2019 through 2022, Microsoft has named her a Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for her work in transforming the way the scientific community uses PowerPoint to convey their research. Melissa has also authored a new online course on LinkedIn Learning.

Melissa’s workshops are lively, practical and transformational. For a sneak peek, check out her TED Talk, “Talk Nerdy to Me.” It’s been watched by over 2.5 million people (and counting).

“Applied Bayesian Methods for Test Planning and Evaluation”

Victoria Sieck

Deputy Director
STAT COE/AFIT

Cory Natoli

Applied Statistician
Huntington Ingalls Industries/STAT COE

Corey Thrush

Statistician
Huntington Ingalls Industries/STAT COE

Course Title: Applied Bayesian Methods for Test Planning and Evaluation

Workshop Theme: Improving the Quality of Test & Evaluation

Abstract: Bayesian methods have been promoted as a promising way for test and evaluation analysts to leverage previous information across a continuum-of-testing approach to system evaluation. This short course will cover how to identify when Bayesian methods might be useful within a test and evaluation context, components required to accomplish a Bayesian analysis, and provide an understanding of how to interpret the results of that analysis. The course will apply these concepts to two hands-on examples (code and applications provided): one example focusing on system reliability and one focusing on system effectiveness. Furthermore, individuals will gain an understanding of the sequential nature of a Bayesian approach to test and evaluation, the limitations thereof, and gain a broad understanding of questions to ask to ensure a Bayesian analysis is appropriately accomplished.

Additional Information:

Recommended background: basic understanding of common distributions (e.g., Normal distribution, Binomial distribution)
To follow along with examples, it is recommended you bring a computer that…
o Can access the internet
o Already has R Studio loaded (code will be provided; however, not having R Studio will not be a detriment to those who are interested in understanding the overall process but not executing an analysis themselves)

Instructor Bio: Dr. Victoria R. C. Sieck is the Deputy Director of the Scientific Test & Analysis Center of Excellence (STAT COE), where she works with major acquisition programs within the Department of Defense (DoD) to apply rigor and efficiency to current and emerging test and evaluation methodologies through the application of the STAT process. Additionally, she is an Assistant Professor of Statistics at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), where her research interests include design of experiments, and developing innovate Bayesian approaches to DoD testing. As an Operations Research Analyst in the US Air Force (USAF), her experiences in the USAF testing community include being a weapons and tactics analyst and an operational test analyst. Dr. Sieck has a M.S. in Statistics from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of New Mexico.

Keynote Speakers

Short Course Instructors

Location

Parking and Transportation

Lodging

Hyatt Centric Old Town Alexandria

Residence Inn Alexandria Old Town/Duke Street

Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel