Kevin Garrison
Data and Information Technology
Research Staff Member, Institute for Defense Analyses
Mr. Kevin Garrison serves as a Research Staff Member in the IT Studies Division of the Institute for Defense Analyses where he conducts research and analysis on a wide range of IT issues, including system analysis, IT cost modeling, cybersecurity, machine learning, and natural language processing. Prior to this, he was Chief of Analytics in the Office of the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer. With more than 40 years combined Federal Service and defense contractor experience, Mr. Garrison led efforts that built a Department of Defense (DOD) enterprise business data analytical environment and engaged with key stakeholders across the Department to identify IT systems and provided analysis for cost saving opportunities. His leadership drove an informed decision‐making model based on a repeatable data analysis methodology, including processes for data collection and enrichment, IT spending segmentation, and industry benchmarking comparisons.
Prior to this assignment, Mr. Garrison served as the DOD Principal Director, Deputy Chief Information Officer for Business Process and Systems Review (DCIO(BPSR)). The organization’s function was to conduct business process and Information Technology (IT) systems reviews directed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense in July 2014. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Director of Information Enterprise Governance with a portfolio including Office of Management and Budget (OMB) initiatives, IT Portfolio and Inventory Management, and Acquisition Oversight. He was the lead action officer for PortfolioStat, TechStat, Shared Service, and CIO Ratings on the Federal IT Dashboard. As the requirements manager for the Department’s IT systems inventory, he implemented several initiatives that provided greatly improved visibility for technical and financial matters related to IT. Mr. Garrison was also responsible for significant activities regarding Defense Business Systems, including development of the IT portion of the Strategic Management Plan, the Enterprise IT Infrastructure Functional Strategy, and improvements to policy guidance to refine granularity in identifying IT systems performing business functions.
Mr. Garrison spent 12 years as a defense contractor supporting the Assistant Secretary of Defense (ASD) for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence, ASD (Networks and Information Integration), Army CIO/G6, Army G3 LANDWARNET, Wounded Warrior, and the Federal Voting Assistance Program. He supported the Year 2000 Program Office and managed reporting to OMB, GAO, and DODIG, as well as distribution ofthe $2.2Bsupplemental appropriation. He later supported the development and management of the DOD IT Portfolio Repository, IT Portfolio Management, and FISMA E‐Gov, and Privacy Impact Assessment reporting. In the Army CIO/G6 he managed the Army Knowledge Management Goal 1 Waiver process and improvements to the Army Portfolio Management System. In Army G3/ LANDWARNET he drove implementation of the initial Capability Portfolio Reviews for IT.
Mr. Garrison is a retired US Army officer and a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (B.S. Astronautical Engineering). He is also Acquisition Certified at Level III for IT and Level I for Program Management, and is a member of IEEE and ACM.