“I want to highlight an important section in the NDAA that none of the ‘summaries’ caught. Section 241 MEASURING AND INCENTIVIZING PROGRAMMING PROFICIENCY requires the DoD to ‘leverage existing civilian software development and software architecture certification programs to implement coding language proficiency and artificial intelligence competency tests.’ It goes on to require the DoD to track, develop, and incentivize those (through special pay!) who demonstrate these competencies. It also requires DoD to collaborate with other agencies on this program. This talent management initiative has the potential to significantly advance digital literacy in the federal workforce, and it shouldn’t stop there. It can be the example companies, schools, and others point to when justifying why and how to upskill those they employ or serve.
“There is a long story behind this section that my good friend, Michael Kanaan or I could tell anytime. There have been many believers, supporters, and contributors of this vision, including the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Thanks to those who moved this forward and made it law. It now requires many in the public & private sector to make it so.” Read the full post here.
Source: LinkedIn post by Jason Brown (Strategic Cloud Advisor – Public Sector at Google), January 21, 2021.
