WASHINGTON – Representatives Houlahan and Mark Meadows (R-NC) and Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Rob Portman (R-OH) laud the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2020 that included their Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act.
The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would modernize the Department of Defense (DoD) workforce by adding a recruitment focus and establishing military career tracks for individuals with digital expertise and software development skills.
The conferenced NDAA incorporated key provisions taken from the Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act. It recognizes the importance of individuals with aptitude and experience in digital expertise and software development to the armed services and requires the Secretary of Defense to devise an implementation plan to recruit and develop digital engineering specialists. The bill also requires the Defense Secretary to create a digital engineering capability for the development and deployment of acquisition programs and software support. The bill also requires a demonstration of digital engineering capabilities and policy guidance to promote the use of said capabilities.
“Recruiting and retaining technical talent at the Department of Defense is a crucial national security priority as we prepare for the threats of tomorrow,” said Houlahan. “As an engineer who worked on anti-ballistic missile defense in the Air Force, I know just how acute our need for people with technical expertise is. That’s why I’m proud to have passed this bipartisan and bicameral legislation that will help build a more robust tech talent force at DOD. I look forward to the President signing this bill.”
“Senior defense leaders and cybersecurity experts have repeatedly emphasized the need for a military workforce with a digital engineering skillset,” said Heinrich, co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Whether it is Artificial Intelligence, 5G telecommunications services, or cloud computing - developing digital technologies are presenting new opportunities, but additional challenges for the Department of Defense. The inclusion of these provisions means that we are one step closer to preparing America’s defense arsenal with a capable, trained cyber workforce.”
“Computer science and digital engineering competency have become increasingly important for the success of the American warfighter,” said Portman, co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus. “This bipartisan legislation ensures we prioritize servicemembers with digital skills and expertise and put them in roles where they can best put those unique skills to work.”
Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She’s in her first term representing Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.
