ABSTRACT
This chapter orients on the future of our Military Operations Research profession. Where do we need to be going? What should we be doing? How can we address, in imaginative and creative ways, the many persisting problems and seemingly intractible national and global security challenges that confront us? Strategic Analytics, the alignment of methods and models with the “ends-ways-means” strategy paradigm, is presented. To fully capitalize on advances in information technologies and rapidly growing big data opportunities, the complementary power of operations research, data sciences, and management innovation will be essential. Functional components and enabling disciplines are described: decision support capabilities, engineering systems, dynamic strategic planning, and “engines for innovation” to encourage and guide transformational endeavors. Three recent applications of Strategic Analytics to current enterprise challenges are provided: defense resource planning, global logistics supply chains for materiel readiness, and recruiting for the All-Volunteer Force. We must integrate our intellectual capacities, considerable strategic planning acumen, diverse analytical skills, and bring them all to bear on formidable national and international security challenges of our time.
