ENERGIZING DATA-DRIVEN
OPERATIONS AT THE
TACTICAL EDGE
Challenges and Concerns
Committee on Energy Challenges and Opportunities for
Future Data-Driven Operations in the United States Air Force
Air Force Studies Board
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
A Consensus Study Report of
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, DC
www.nap.edu
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This activity was supported by Contract No. FA8650-19-F-9303 with the U.S. Air Force. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-67023-4
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-67023-3
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/26183
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Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Energizing Data-Driven Operations at the Tactical Edge: Challenges and Concerns. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26183.
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COMMITTEE ON ENERGY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE DATA-DRIVEN OPERATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
JULIE J.C.H. RYAN, Wyndrose Technical Group, Chair
MARK F. COSTELLO, Georgia Institute of Technology
JOHN FERRARI, Visiting Fellow, American Enterprise Institute and QOMPLX
DENIZ OZKAN, Shell Renewables and Energy Solutions
DOROTHY ROBYN, Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy (through July 2020)
MARCUS SACHS, Auburn University and Pattern Computer
MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
SUBHASH C. SINGHAL, NAE,1 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Emeritus)
Staff
RYAN MURPHY, Program Officer, Study Director
MARGUERITE SCHNEIDER, Administrative Coordinator
EVAN ELWELL, Research Assistant
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1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
AIR FORCE STUDIES BOARD
ELLEN M. PAWLIKOWSKI, NAE,1 Independent Consultant, Chair
KEVIN G. BOWCUTT, NAE, Boeing Company
TED F. BOWLDS, IAI North America
CLAUDE CANIZARES, NAS,2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MARK F. COSTELLO, Georgia Institute of Technology
WESLEY L. HARRIS, NAE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
JAMES E. HUBBARD, JR., NAE, Texas A&M University
LESTER L. LYLES, NAE, U.S. Air Force (retired)
WENDY M. MASIELLO, Wendy Mas Consulting, LLC
LESLIE A. MOMODA, HRL Laboratories, LLC
OZDEN OCHOA, Texas A&M University
F. WHITTEN PETERS, Williams and Connolly, LLP
HENDRICK RUCK, Edaptive Computing, Inc.
JULIE J.C.H. RYAN, Wyndrose Technical Group
MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
GRANT STOKES, NAE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MICHAEL YARYMOVYCH, NAE, Sarasota Space Associates
Staff
ELLEN CHOU, Director
GEORGE COYLE, Senior Program Officer
EVAN ELWELL, Research Assistant
ADRIANNA HARGROVE, Financial Assistant
RYAN MURPHY, Program Officer
MARGUERITE SCHNEIDER, Administrative Coordinator
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
2 Member, National Academy of Sciences.
Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This Consensus Study Report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published report as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process.
We thank the following individuals for their review of this report:
Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations of this report nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
of this report was overseen by Robert F. Sproull, NAE, Oracle Labs (retired), University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the authoring committee and the National Academies.
Preface
In 2019, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) requested that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine conduct a study to examine challenges and opportunities associated with energy needs for future data-driven operations at the tactical edge. Accordingly, the National Academies, under the auspices of its Air Force Studies Board (AFSB), established the Committee on Energy Challenges and Opportunities for Future Data-Driven Operations in the United States Air Force. Members of the interdisciplinary committee were volunteers, appointed to represent relevant academic, research, and operational experience for this highly specialized topic. This report is the result of the work of that committee. Consistent with the statement of task, reprinted in Appendix A, this report offers insights into the Air Force regarding the energy needs for information systems at the tactical edge.
The committee wishes to acknowledge the many contributors to the study, specifically those who took the time to brief the committee and participate in the many virtual meetings over the period of the study. The committee began work just prior to the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic and was able to have only one meeting in person before the restrictions on gathering went into effect. The pandemic restrictions on travel and group gatherings impacted the normal National Academies study process by requiring that all data gathering and interviews be conducted virtually and by eliminating the ability of the committee to collect data from operational locations. The committee would particularly like to acknowledge and thank the participants, including both staff and subject-matter experts, who participated while actively fighting the COVID-19 infection. The
committee members and National Academies staff displayed perseverance in the midst of these unusual circumstances, completing the study despite the restrictions. We wish to thank them and the many subject-matter experts for their flexibility and willingness to contribute to this effort.
