{"id":49366,"date":"2022-09-20T18:43:08","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T18:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/09\/20\/space-forces-gagnon-says-analysis-trumps-data-collection-for-intel\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:31:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:31:09","slug":"space-forces-gagnon-says-analysis-trumps-data-collection-for-intel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2022\/09\/20\/space-forces-gagnon-says-analysis-trumps-data-collection-for-intel\/","title":{"rendered":"Space Force\u2019s Gagnon says analysis trumps data collection for intel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. \u2014 Successful military operations must move beyond data collection to focus on rapid and thorough analysis of information streams, according to the U.S. Space Force director of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday, the core value proposition is no longer collection. We have plenty of collection, whether it\u2019s airborne, space-based, or cyber-based,\u201d Brig. Gen. Gregory Gagnon said Sept. 20 at the Air Force Association\u2019s Air, Space and Cyber Conference<\/a>. \u201cWhat we need is sense making, or fusion, or analysis. That is the core value proposition moving forward for an intelligence service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improved distillation of information will better inform U.S. policies abroad as well as make the military more effective, according to Gagnon, who previously served as the director of intelligence at U.S. Space Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Defense has cited artificial intelligence and machine learning as means to rapidly make sense of reams of data, on and off the battlefield. The Pentagon is juggling more than 685 AI projects<\/a> \u2014 some associated with major weapons systems \u2014 as of February, according to the Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manpower \u201cstill matters,\u201d said Gagnon, who described himself as a \u201cbeliever in AI and ML\u201d while also being a \u201crealist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur value proposition moving forward as a workforce is how do we use those new tools to help\u201d tackle challenges, he said<\/a>. \u201cWe always talk about going fast. What matters is that you\u2019re outpacing, outthinking, out-deciding your adversary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t