HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Cost analysts gathered here for a workshop Dec. 5 to learn about the latest Department of Defense policy and guidance pertaining to cost analysis.
The International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association’s New England Chapter hosted the annual workshop.
Scott Owens, deputy director of the Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks directorate, and the keynote speaker, closed the workshop by providing his lessons learned.
“The way I have learned throughout my career is by making mistakes,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of Air Force core values and encouraged the analysts to practice them.
“When they really count, when they’re important, that’s not the time to be figuring it out,” he said. “They need to be a habit.”
Owens highlighted integrity, the importance of discipline and knowing one’s self and skillsets.
“That’s important from a leadership perspective,” he said.
A retired Air Force colonel, Owens spoke about job knowledge, too.
“A senior leader is relying on all of us to do our piece of the Air Force,” he said. “Take advantage of the opportunity you have and learn all you can. I encourage all of you to get comfortable with asking questions, then as a senior leader, maturing to understand what questions to ask.”
He emphasized that others may have the same question.
“We don’t have enough time and resources to be inefficient,” he said.
Owens highlighted the importance of motivating teams to keep the best interests of the Air Force a top priority.
Organizers also offered sessions on “Agile Metric Analysis in the C2ISR Division: The Right Metrics for The Right Audience,” “Creating a Cost Estimate for a Software Factory,” “Cyber Mission Platform Program: Standing up Agile Software Development Best Practices,” “Pitfalls of Historical Data Use in Software Estimation,” and more.
“The workshop enabled cost analysts of all experience levels to collaborate and learn about the latest topics, such as agile software development,” said Jonathan Lister, the chapter’s vice president and co-organizer for the event.
The International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association is dedicated to advancing, encouraging, promoting and enhancing the profession of cost estimating and analysis, through the use of parametrics and other data-driven techniques.