Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (15 May 2019): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
What this bill does
S. 1471, the Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act, would establish digital engineering as a formal "core competency" of the U.S. Armed Forces. It directs the Department of Defense to recruit, train, and retain personnel with skills in digital engineering, data science, software engineering, and related fields, and to create career tracks, training, and promotion pathways for these specialties. The bill creates a new position, the "Chief Digital Engineering Recruitment and Management Officer," within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, to lead these efforts; the position would expire on September 30, 2029, unless otherwise addressed. The Officer would be tasked with developing recruitment programs, career tracks, training curricula, readiness metrics, and annual reports to Congress on progress.
The bill primarily affects the Department of Defense's personnel policies, particularly recruitment, training, and career management for military members with digital and technical skills. It would also affect the Assistant Secretaries of the military departments for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, who would be required to implement the new policy starting no later than January 1, 2022.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on May 15, 2019, by Senator Martin Heinrich, with Senator Rob Portman as a cosponsor, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Armed Services. It did not receive a vote and did not become law during the 116th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to promote and maintain digital engineering as a core competency of the Armed Forces.
In addition, DOD must (1) create the position of Chief Digital Engineering Recruitment and Management Officer, which shall expire on September 30, 2029; (2) develop and enhance recruitment and training programs for digital engineering talent; and (3) annually report on the readiness of digital forces and progress toward achieving digital engineering policies.
Timeline
15 May 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Common questions
- What does S. 1471 do?
- S. 1471, the Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act, would establish digital engineering as a formal "core competency" of the U.S. Armed Forces. It directs the Department of Defense to recruit, train, and retain personnel with skills in digital engineering, data science, software engineering, and related fields, and to create career tracks, training, and promotion pathways for these specialties. The bill creates a new position, the "Chief Digital Engineering Recruitment and Management Officer," within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, to lead these efforts; the position would expire on September 30, 2029, unless otherwise addressed. The Officer would be tasked with developing recruitment programs, career tracks, training curricula, readiness metrics, and annual reports to Congress on progress. The bill primarily affects the Department of Defense's personnel policies, particularly recruitment, training, and career management for military members with digital and technical skills. It would also affect the Assistant Secretaries of the military departments for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, who would be required to implement the new policy starting no later than January 1, 2022. The bill was introduced in the Senate on May 15, 2019, by Senator Martin Heinrich, with Senator Rob Portman as a cosponsor, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Armed Services. It did not receive a vote and did not become law during the 116th Congress.
- Has S. 1471 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1471. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1471?
- S. 1471 was sponsored by Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 1471?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (15 May 2019).
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