FORT LEE, Va. –
The Defense Contract Management Agency’s Technical Directorate gathered more than 2,800 personnel for an Innovation Day to champion an organizational future of data-driven decision-making, artificial intelligence and enterprise-wide integration.
Agency leadership said the event connected developing policy, tools and data to a broader strategy focused on speed, accuracy and mission impact.
“This was about sharing where we are and where we are going,” said Srujana Samineni, director of TD’s Engineering and Manufacturing Division. “We wanted the workforce to see how their work in the field connects directly to enterprise-level decisions and warfighter outcomes.”
The daylong event featured opening remarks from senior leaders and presentations from subject matter experts across the technical enterprise. Sessions covered surveillance policy, data collection and analysis tools, contractor performance models, and artificial intelligence strategy.
DCMA Deputy Director Sonya Ebright outlined a future where data flows instantly from the field to senior leaders, enabling and enhancing the decision-making process.
“I’m so proud of our teams across the agency for embracing innovation and automation,” said Ebright, who believes that within five years factory floor information will instantly populate DCMA’s database. “It will turn into instant insight for our strategic leadership at the Pentagon.”
She said the agency must reduce manual processes and rely more on automation and analytics to support decision-makers across the defense acquisition enterprise.
As the Tech Directorate’s leader, Walt Eady reinforced that vision, highlighting data integrity and AI adoption as critical workforce enablers.
“We're going to achieve our goals by having actionable data, looking at predictive analysis and making strong decisions,” he said.
The event’s central theme focused on shifting from reactive oversight to predictive insight. Speakers highlighted how integrated data systems and emerging tools allow the agency to identify risk earlier and respond faster.
Air Force Col. Jeromie Shoulders, acting chief data and analytics officer, framed artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance—not replace—the workforce.
“AI is not about technology, it’s about decision advantage,” Shoulders said. “The question isn’t whether we use AI, it’s how fast we can operationalize it in order to deliver impact.”
Shoulders emphasized human oversight remains essential. “AI is a tool, not a decision maker,” he said.
Other sessions highlighted improvements in communication and collaboration across the enterprise, featuring new feedback loops, tools and engagement strategies designed to connect headquarters and field personnel more effectively.
The event sparked dialogue across the agency’s global workforce. Organizers designed sessions to show how individual efforts contribute to a broader mission and to encourage continued innovation.
“Innovation Day served as a catalyst to align the workforce around senior leadership’s priorities, including data integration, AI adoption and faster decision-making,” Samineni said. “This session brought together the people, tools and ideas that will shape how we operate going forward. Now the focus shifts to execution.”
Participants responded positively, rewarding organizers with high marks for their efforts.
“I’m incredibly proud of the team for bringing this together and for the level of effort it took to make this event happen,” said Eady. “What we saw today reflects the direction we need to go as an agency, and I look forward to building on this momentum in future events like this.”