JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The Air Force District of Washington's A6 Data and Artificial Intelligence Team was selected as the 2025 DAF Chief Information Officer Award Winner in the Data and AI Team category.
The A6 team work improved operational efficiency, enhanced decision-making, and modernized defense capabilities. The primary driver of these impacts was the development of the Global Support Tool.
The GST consolidates personnel data from several thousand career fields across five different sources into a single, authoritative system. But integrating these modules, it allows leaders to respond faster, allocate resources more effectively, and optimize mission outcomes on a global scale.
The GST leverages Microsoft technologies to deliver near-real-time tracking and support for more than 39,000 customers from AFDW's Worldwide Mission. Additionally, the team deliberately focused on making the tool accessible with a user-centric design and it's available on both desktop and mobile versions.
The Worldwide Mission is a strategic priority for the command. AFDW provides major command-level support to 2,400 organizations spread across 107 different countries. There are members located in Joint and Combined Commands, National Agencies, and Field Operating Agencies around the world as well as in the National Capital Region.
Jay Desai, the AFDW Chief Data and AI Officer, who led the A6 team said, "I'm incredibly proud of our team's dedication to pushing the boundaries of data and AI in support of our Airmen. Winning this award validates the hard work of the AFDW/A6 team at delivering solutions that truly make a difference in mission readiness and innovation."
The investment in this advancement is realized through increased efficiencies in accounting for, monitoring, servicing, and supporting all of AFDW's Worldwide Mission Airmen. By streamlining processes and providing more than 200 leaders with near real-time insights, the initiative reduces administrative burden, enhances accountability, and drives cost-effective operations across the enterprise.
The application modernizes command and also demonstrates the Department of the Air Force's ability to leverage data as a strategic asset. These tools help the Department become a modernized, agile force.
"I am proud of our AFDW/A6 Data & AI team. They consistently lean forward in mission support and innovation, and this DAF award is a fitting recognition of their dedication, said Danielle Little, AFDW/A6 director. "Their leadership and teamwork have set a high bar, and I am confident that the groundbreaking work they've done will have a profound and positive impact in years to come."