Government agencies are harnessing the power of data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance decision-making processes and better serve the nation’s interests on the global stage. Leveraging emerging technologies, the US State Department has embraced a data-driven approach to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in its operations.
In a recent GovFuture podcast interview,
Jennifer Storm-Jenkins who serves in the Bureau of Information Resource Management at the Department of State shares how analytics & AI are impacting decision-making processes, how the department is leveraging emerging technologies to make more informed decisions, and how the department is collaborating with other agencies and governments to share information and leverage technology.
Data analytics and AI impacting decision-making
By adopting advanced forms of data analytics, the Department of State processes vast amounts of information from diverse sources, allowing diplomats and policymakers to make more informed decisions. Data-driven insights are aiding in forecasting trends, identifying potential risks, and optimizing resource allocation for diplomacy and foreign policy initiatives. These capabilities enable the department to proactively address challenges, mitigate crises, and capitalize on opportunities in real-time. AI is also playing a role in transforming decision-making within the department.
Jennifer shares, “The department is really committed to increasing its capacity to build and scale mission-driven data analytics tools, and that includes AI. We consider it another tool in our diplomatic toolbox. We really live to position ourselves to implement advanced technology techniques. We’re tackling foundational issues like data acumen and data management, as well as many other instances of data analytics applied to our most important mission areas.”
“For us, this really began with the creation of the Center for Analytics in January 2020. Our Chief Data Officer, Matthew Graviss, serves as the department’s first ever Chief Data Officer and under his leadership, the Center for Analytics developed State’s first ever enterprise data strategy. And our strategy implementation really takes a unique approach. We focus on top priorities through what we call data campaigns. We bring together data science, data management, communications, and other resources every six months and we run two concurrent data campaigns: one that’s mission focused and one that’s management focused on a kind of a themed priority. The goal we have there is really for a dedicated cross-functional team to produce substantive results quickly, which allows us to deliver solutions to as many as a dozen relevant department priorities, and, over a three-year period we’ve seen these campaigns be able to really deliver on those department priorities.”
Collaboration between Federal Agencies a Key Element of Success
The importance of the US Department of State’s interaction and collaboration with other federal agencies and international governments is a key element in the use of advanced technology. Collaborating with other federal agencies, especially around leveraging technology, data sharing, and other critical areas has become critical. By cultivating strong relationships with national and global partners, the Department of State is able to leverage diverse perspectives, pool resources, and foster diplomatic engagement, reinforcing the United States’ position as a credible and influential player in shaping the future of international relations.
Jennifer explains, “we collaborate with all parties and have a couple examples of each. So, within the department, we generate much of the data that we need to drive diplomacy through informed decisions. Recognizing the value of our own data and the part it plays in making decisions is what makes data sharing successful within the Department of State so that we can use that data effectively. From an interagency perspective, we participate in organizations such as the Federal Chief Data Office of Council, which serves as a really central venue for knowledge sharing and benchmarking with other agencies, best practices, and this helps us provide lessons for our own endeavors. Once a precedent is set in a federal agency, it’s much easier to make the argument or to put the practice into place at our own agency. We’ve found great value in shared projects across the federal government with partners such as the US Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense and Homeland Security, among others.”
“So, the more we can collaborate with partners, agencies on day-to-day operations, the better position we are to collaborate in times of crises, ensuring that the interagency is unified in its whole-of-government approach to utilizing data. From an international perspective, data diplomacy is not just arming our diplomats with information to make evidence-based decisions, but it’s also our data SMEs and data leadership engaging with international allies and discussing things like our journey to stand up the Center for Analytics, creating enterprise data strategy, and how we are implementing that strategy, along with the best practices for strengthening data and technology use in the government environment.”
The US Department of State’s integration of data analytics and AI has greatly enhanced its decision-making processes. By leveraging emerging technologies and collaborating with other agencies and governments, the department is better equipped to navigate an increasingly interconnected world, protect national interests, and promote peace and stability globally.
Disclosure: Kathleen Walch is an Executive Director at GovFuture.
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