1 / 51

Every Soldier is a Sensor Countering Corruption in Afghanistan Amy Gaskins

In this presentation, Amy Gaskins discusses the role of data science in countering corruption in Afghanistan. She highlights the importance of expanding the definition of data science and prioritizing mindset over skillset. Gaskins shares the success story of the 43d Sustainment Brigade and their implementation of the Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) initiative. The unit's soldiers collected valuable intelligence, leading to increased morale and improved information sharing. The key takeaways emphasize the importance of curiosity, analytical thinking, and collaboration in data science.

glasscock
Download Presentation

Every Soldier is a Sensor Countering Corruption in Afghanistan Amy Gaskins

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Every Soldier is a SensorCountering Corruption in AfghanistanAmy Gaskins

  2. Agenda • Quick Disclaimer • Why I’m Here • Redefining Data Science • Afghanistan Circa 2010 • The 43d Sustainment Brigade • The Counter-Corruption Task • Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) • What Happened After

  3. Agenda • Quick Disclaimer • Why I’m Here • Redefining Data Science • Afghanistan Circa 2010 • The 43d Sustainment Brigade • The Counter-Corruption Task • Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) • What Happened After

  4. Because my soldiers have a great story to tell…

  5. …but they need a conduit to tell it.

  6. Agenda • Quick Disclaimer • Why I’m Here • Redefining Data Science • Afghanistan Circa 2010 • The 43d Sustainment Brigade • The Counter-Corruption Task • Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) • What Happened After

  7. Allow me to present a crazy idea…

  8. Data science shouldn’t be so programming and math focused because that makes the definition too limiting

  9. By keeping the definition so narrow, we risk leaving out a lot of really smart people!

  10. Let’s get out of the narrow-minded bubble and expand the definition of what data science is

  11. If you only take away one thing today, let it be this…

  12. Find people who are naturally curious and analytical Mindset first because smart people can learn the technical stuff Skillset second

  13. Agenda • Quick Disclaimer • Why I’m Here • Redefining Data Science • Afghanistan Circa 2010 • The 43d Sustainment Brigade • The Counter-Corruption Task • Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) • What Happened After

  14. Where’s Afghanistan?

  15. In 2010, the number of IED attacks grew 400%over the previous year

  16. Agenda • Quick Disclaimer • Why I’m Here • Redefining Data Science • Afghanistan Circa 2010 • The 43d Sustainment Brigade • The Counter-Corruption Task • Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) • What Happened After

  17. Nearly 5,000 soldiers

  18. Moving supplies

  19. LOTS of supplies

  20. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

  21. Over a HUGE area

  22. They only havesix analysts to provide intelligence support

  23. We needed to “hire” people with operational experience

  24. Find people who are naturally curious and analytical Mindset first because smart people can learn the technical stuff Skillset second

  25. Soldiers who knew about this…

  26. …and also wanted to learn this.

  27. Agenda • Quick Disclaimer • Why I’m Here • Redefining Data Science • Afghanistan Circa 2010 • The 43d Sustainment Brigade • The Counter-Corruption Task • Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) • What Happened After

  28. ISAF wants to know about corruption

  29. Bribes were estimated at $1-2 million per week

  30. But where are those bribes going?

  31. Containment areas are hotbeds of untapped information

  32. Agenda • Quick Disclaimer • Why I’m Here • Redefining Data Science • Afghanistan Circa 2010 • The 43d Sustainment Brigade • The Counter-Corruption Task • Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) • What Happened After

  33. What is ES2? Change in the mindset and culture of both leaders and soldiers A network that integrates the soldier into the overall intelligence framework Rapid fielding of new tools to the soldier level

  34. The 43d’s soldiers are young and giving them data collection responsibility is a challenge for leadership

  35. Find people who are naturally curious and analytical Mindset first because smart people can learn the technical stuff Skillset second

  36. Soldiers are natural helpers They just want to know how they fit into the mission

  37. The Training Method Grow confidence Use Interpreters Tactical Questioning

  38. Then move out to the collection points

  39. Agenda • Quick Disclaimer • Why I’m Here • Redefining Data Science • Afghanistan Circa 2010 • The 43d Sustainment Brigade • The Counter-Corruption Task • Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) • What Happened After

  40. Soldiers collected thousands of reports

  41. The unit’s morale increased at lower levels

  42. After a few months… patterns started to emerge

  43. Information Sharing Up to leadership Across to other units Down to subordinate units

  44. The 43d set the standard for information collection

  45. The soldiers have taken various paths

  46. Key Takeaways • Mindset first, skillset second • You never know who can get the data you need • With proper training, you can grow great analysts

More Related