1
Table of Contents
Empowering USDA’s Future
5
USDA IT Strategic Framework
6
Goal 1: Accelerate Digital Transformation
8
Goal 2: Drive Innovation in Support of USDA Mission
11
Goal 3: Improve IT Organizational Agility with a Skilled Workforce
13
Goal 4: Build Resilience Into Everything We Do
15
Goal 5: Enable Data-Driven Decision-Making
16
Alignment to USDA Strategic Goals
18
Implementing the USDA IT Strategic Plan
19
USDA’s Commitment to the IT Strategic Plan
20
Jewel Bronaugh
Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
“Advanced technologies
and improved data and
analytics are foundational to
everything we do at USDA.
From providing economic
opportunity and helping
rural America to thrive,
to promoting agriculture
production that better
nourishes Americans, while
also helping feed others
throughout the world.”
Thomas J. Vilsack
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
3
“USDA seeks to be the
federal lead in customer-
centered, data-driven
service delivery. In doing
so, we will accelerate the
use of modern technology
and digital tools that our
customers have come
to expect in every other
aspect of their lives.”
Gary Washington
Chief Information Officer
U.S. Department of Agriculture
4 4
IT
Empowering USDA’s Future
IT Mission IT Vision
Enable USDA mission through Implement a customer first model
innovative, secure, and cost- leveraging technologies that
effective IT solutions and services. provide for simple, seamless, and USDA Mission
secure digital services and offers To serve all Americans by providing effec-
tive, innovative, science-based public policy
a world class experience for the
leadership in agriculture, food and nutrition,
American public.
natural resources protection and manage-
ment, rural development, and related issues
with a commitment to deliverable equitable
and climate-smart opportunities that inspire
Our Values
and help America thrive.
Supporting the implementation of USDA’s IT vision are the following
organizational core values:
USDA Vision
• Customer-First Experience - Design and deliver IT solutions around a An equitable and climate-smart food and
agriculture economy that protects and
Digital Enterprise Model that puts the needs of customers at the forefront of
improves the health, nutrition, and quality
innovation, security, and modernization.
of lifeof all Americans; yields healthy land,
• Innovation - Foster innovation and adoption of new technologies. forests, and clean water; helps rural Ameri-
ca thrive; and feeds the world.
• Quality and Availability of Data and Information - Enhance the quality,
availability, and delivery of data and information through curation and
stewardship throughout the life cycle. USDA Core Values
•Respect and Dignity
• Efficiency - Increase efficiency, transparency, and accountability of IT. •Equity and Inclusion
•Trust and Integrity
• Value - Provide business value to all users and stakeholders. •Service and Results
•Science Leadership
5 5
USDA IT Strategic Framework
66
Our Strategic Approach
7 7
1
Goal 1
Accelerate Digital Transformation
Our commitment is to scale, modernize, and create innovative
technology solutions that are based on customer needs.
OBJECTIVE 1: Design Customer-Centric IT Solutions to Dramatically
Improve Customer Experiences (Milestone FY2023)
Strategy 1: Strategy 3:
Integrate human-centered design approaches Employ continuous improvement methods for
into all aspects of IT design and solutioning. work products to create a seamless integration
of the physical and digital customer experience
by utilizing feedback from customers.
Strategy 2:
Provide responsive online services using multi-dis-
ciplinary teams composed of experts in customer
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT Strategy 4:
experience, data analysis, digital tool development, Conduct pilot projects to fully modernize and
USDA will utilize modern mobile
deployment, and program management. digitize three to four priority programs, provid-
augmented-reality systems to
ing end-to-end responsive online services.
transform the process of detecting and
monitoring physical characteristics of
an area. This enables farmers to plan
optimal cropping patterns, monitor
Expected Outcomes:
for pest infestation, train new farmers, Fully adopted approaches for co-creating with our customer, improved customer experiences
and interact with their operational on par with the best of the commercial sector, and leveraged advanced technologies
equipment while helping them to
to transform citizen services and internal operations. Institutionalized approaches to
streamline crop management processes
continuously improving the customer experiences as expectations and capabilities evolve.
to maximize return on investment.
8
1
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT
Goal 1
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) organization is creating
a scanning tool that leverages Artificial
Intelligence to digitize files at the Plum
Island, NY Research Facility thereby
Accelerate Digital Transformation alleviating the need to remove them from
the bio-containment area. The files will
then be used for scientific purposes at
Our commitment is to scale, modernize, and create innovative
the new National Bio and Agro-Defense
technology solutions that are based on customer needs.
Facility (NBAF), the first Biological Safety
Level 4 (BSL4) facility in the country.
OBJECTIVE 2: Aid in Transition to Electronic Operations (Milestone FY2026)
Strategy 1: Strategy 2:
Prioritize the use of digital signatures, enhanced Identify opportunities to reduce manual
collaboration tools, and document and storage processes and enhance automation so staff can
capabilities. focus on more strategic work.
Expected Outcomes:
More efficiently, reliably, expeditiously and cost effectively ingest, store, organize and
maintain digital artifacts. Customers will have access to USDA information and services via
their channel of choice through a single “front door”, while the workforce and peripheral
organizations will be able to sort through paperless databases quickly and easily.
9 9
1
Goal 1
Accelerate Digital Transformation
Our commitment is to scale, modernize, and create innovative technology solutions that
are based on customer needs.
OBJECTIVE 3: Apply Modern Solution and Service Delivery Across the
Department (Milestone FY2024)
Strategy 1: Strategy 3:
Optimize cloud computing by fully leveraging Mature software development processes and
Cloud Service Provider innovations to establish apply unified tool sets across the Department to
a target digital architecture. This will help to automate solution delivery processes.
reduce cloud sprawl and complexity, while
improving the ability to manage costs.
Strategy 4:
Streamline service delivery by adopting
Continuous Authority to Operate approaches.
Strategy 2:
Enhance and accelerate application migration
to the cloud to leverage improved data and
Strategy 5:
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT analytics and security, enhanced customer Apply Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOPs)
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Services’ services, and advanced technologies such as to predict and remediate performance issues across
(AMS) Specialty Crop Inspection Operating Artificial Intelligence (AI). applications, services, and infrastructure.
Network (SCION) provides a one-stop-
shop for Specialty Crops Inspection
(SCI) customers to request services and
access key information, which allows AMS Expected Outcomes:
USDA will have achieved a modern solution service delivery model enabling support anywhere,
employees to become more productive,
be device agnostic, and provide easily accessible information to meet user’s needs.
efficient, and cost-effective.
10
2
Goal 2
Drive Innovation in Support of USDA Mission
Advanced technologies are changing rapidly and increasing complexity. USDA will
continue to drive innovation as it leverages advanced technologies to deliver services
including drones, driverless tractors, remote sensing, augmented reality, and climate
smart agriculture and forestry.
OBJECTIVE 1: Be an Innovation Incubator (Milestone FY2025)
Strategy 1: Strategy 3:
Modernize and formalize the technology Develop Innovation Labs to enable testing of
evaluation processes to stay current with new technologies and the rapid deployment of
newer technologies that are matched to USDA applicable technologies.
mission.
Strategy 4:
Facilitate use of IT modernization capabilities
Strategy 2:
Develop mission-specific use cases for (e.g., digital platforms and low code approaches,
emerging or advanced technologies, such RPA) that can be easily adopted to advance
as Edge Computing, AI, and Robotic Process digital transformation projects across the TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT
Automation (RPA), which can be leveraged Department. The Forest Services is modernizing their
wildland fire management system with the
across USDA.
use of advanced technologies including
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s). Through
the rapid capture of visual damage and
Expected Outcomes:
USDA will have effectively and innovatively implemented an application rationalization program tracking of wildfire patterns, UAVs enable
that modernizes and deploys digital tools, new solutions, and agile and lean deployment the development of better computer models
to track and predict wildfires.
methodologies while minimizing risks to decision-making processes.
11 11
2
Goal 2
Genetic information on the Asian
Giant Hornet was released in record
time by the Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) via a new technology Drive Innovation in Support of USDA Mission
that will become the USDA Scientific
and Research Platform.
Advanced technologies are changing rapidly and increasing complexity. USDA will
continue to drive innovation as it leverages advanced technologies to deliver services
including drones, driverless tractors, remote sensing, augmented reality, and climate
smart agriculture and forestry.
OBJECTIVE 2: Build an Innovation Organization and Culture (Milestone FY2026)
Strategy 1: Strategy 3:
Conduct policy, plan, and procedure reviews Create an experiential culture by increasing the
to identify and remove unnecessary barriers to use of prizes, challenges, ideation, hackathons,
innovation. and other employee engagement techniques.
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT
Strategy 2: Strategy 4:
The Research, Education, and Economics Develop an innovation strategy tied to Identify innovation success stories, elevate, and
(REE) mission area is working in
modernization plans and IT portfolio share them across the Department to promote
partnership with Natural Resource and
management. broader adoption.
Environment (NRE) and Market and
Regulatory Program (MRP) mission areas
to enhance the existing REE high-capacity
computing environment which will enable
Artificial Intelligence and other advanced
technology solutions to become the shared
Expected Outcomes:
Scientific and Research Platform for USDA.
Innovation will be integrated into the fabric of our operations, leading to the delivery of
This will enable the continued and future
transformation services to citizens and improved operations internally.
success of science and research in USDA.
12
3
Goal 3
Improve IT Organizational Agility with a Skilled Workforce
USDA is focused on building an agile organization to improve customer satisfaction. We
will achieve this through a skilled and agile workforce that delivers results quickly, as well
as through our processes for encouraging continuous feedback from customers and staff.
OBJECTIVE 1: Improve the Efficiency and Effectiveness of IT Governance (Milestone FY2023)
Strategy 1: Strategy 3:
Streamline, automate, and enhance IT Develop fast track IT procurement approaches
governance processes to support IT decision that incorporate an IT governance framework
frameworks. along with equity and green IT / sustainability
requirements.
Strategy 2:
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT
Adopt an agile operating model that
Strategy 4:
The Department’s Enterprise
manages programs, lowers costs, delivers Establish IT Working Capital Fund accounts
Architecture Vision Environment
expected customer outcomes, and increases for IT modernization and innovation managed
(EAVE) System facilitates
return on investments. by the CIO to facilitate rapid funding of IT
application rationalization. EAVE
modernization. identified over 160 applications
that provide varying levels of
geospatial capability. USDA
can now analyze these systems
Expected Outcomes:
for potential retirement,
USDA will be able to adapt quickly to changes with a more agile workforce and streamline the
consolidation, cost savings, and
delivery of services in a manner that is highly responsive to customer needs.
enhanced customer experiences.
13 13
3
Goal 3
Improve IT Organizational Agility with a Skilled Workforce
USDA is focused on building an agile organization to improve customer satisfaction. We
will achieve this through a skilled and agile workforce that delivers results quickly, as well
as through our processes for encouraging continuous feedback from customers and staff.
OBJECTIVE 2: Build the IT Workforce of the Future (Milestone FY2023)
Strategy 1: Strategy 3:
Develop a Workforce Operational Plan Continue the IT Fellows Program and
focused on competency gap assessment, execute a new IT Career Development
recruitment, hiring, succession planning, Program.
retention, and training programs.
Strategy 4:
Leverage hiring authorities and new
Strategy 2:
Apply human-centered design approaches programs like the U.S. Digital Corps to target
to co-create with IT staff a re-imagined candidates with desired technology skills.
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT work life experience.
Within the Forest Service,
increased last-mile network
connectivity to rural and urban
field units increases business
capacity and supports new Expected Outcomes:
collaboration technologies for a USDA will have an improved and efficient IT workforce that will have an enhanced
hybrid workforce. capacity for customer service across the IT landscape.
14
4
Goal 4
Build Resilience Into Everything We Do
USDA will apply the concept of cyber resiliency, “the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover
from, and adapt to adverse conditions, stresses, attacks, or compromises on systems that
use or are enabled by cyber resources” to its operations, and cybersecurity capabilities.
OBJECTIVE 1: Continuously Improve USDA’s Cybersecurity Posture (Milestone FY2025)
Strategy 1: Strategy 3:
Respond effectively to cybersecurity Reduce reliance of on-premises legacy
incidents to minimize consequences through systems that are vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
coordinated department-wide response efforts
that prioritize risk management activities.
Strategy 4:
Adopt department-wide zero trust
architectures.
Strategy 2:
Strengthen cybersecurity policies and
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT
processes to ensure risk-based control
Strategy 5: USDA’s Security Information and
measures are effective, redundancies are Integrate security requirements in a “baked
Event Management solution (SIEM)
eliminated, costs are minimized, and user in, not bolted on” approach for all phases of
provides near real-time and archival
experience is continually improved. the system development life cycle. views for monitoring systems,
initiates troubleshooting efforts,
and conducts investigations USDA
Expected Outcomes:
USDA will have a secure IT environment across the department that enables it to prepare for, infrastructure and application
systems. Leveraging the SIEM’s
respond to, and recover from cyber threats. USDA’s cyber resilience allows for the department
integrated AI capabilities, USDA will
to adapt to known and unknown crises, threats, and challenges. This will be possible through
have predictive and preventative
adoption of zero-trust architecture, modernizing legacy applications, and continued
capabilities to bolster our
protection of cyber infrastructure.
cybersecurity resilience.
15 15
5
Goal 5
Enable Data-Driven Decision-Making
USDA is committed to building a culture that values data and promotes public data use
through effective governance processes and robust data management practices that
promote efficient and appropriate data use.
OBJECTIVE 1: Incorporate Data Strategy, Management, and Governance into All IT
Modernization Efforts (Milestone FY2024)
Strategy 1: Strategy 3:
Execute the Chief Data Officer’s (CDO) Data Mod- Identify and actively develop the in-house data
ernization Data Strategy Plan. competencies needed to be a world class data and
analytics organization, as part of the IT Workforce
of the Future Strategy (Goal 3, Objective 2, Strategy 1).
Strategy 2:
Apply modern, future-ready solutions to facilitate
improved data access and management including
Strategy 4:
open, modular, decoupled, and cloud-based Execute the Enterprise Geospatial Management
architectures. Office Modernization Plan.
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT
Launched in FY21, the Enterprise Data
Analytics Platform and Toolset (EDAPT) Expected Outcomes:
USDA will be a “data-first” Department with improved data stewardship processes, and
enables users to discover data and data
modernized workflows for users to access, transform, and publish data. Enhanced data
products. With access to over 532,000+
data assets EDAPT offers a single, management capability for cradle-to-grave data lifecycle approaches will provide USDA
common platform that eliminates with authoritative / certified sources of data with normalized processes, and definitions
technology as a barrier to sharing data that are clearly articulated. Our approach to IT modernization and future systems
and analytic products across USDA. development will “unlock” data from legacy systems and promote data sharing.
16
5
Goal 5
Enable Data-Driven Decision-Making
USDA is committed to building a culture that values data and promotes public data use
through effective governance processes and robust data management practices that
promote efficient and appropriate data use.
OBJECTIVE 2: Accelerate Data-Driven Decision-Making Capabilities
(Milestone FY2025)
Strategy 1: Strategy 2:
Demonstrate the value of improved data Identify, elevate, and share data and
access through pilot projects to build data analytics best practices across USDA.
management competency and build the
Department’s data catalog.
TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHT
Automated detection and analysis
technologies, such as hyperspectral
imaging and 3D laser scanning, will
substantially increase the precision
Expected Outcomes: and volume of data collected. Access
The analytic capability across USDA mission areas will be significantly improved, leading to
to more accurate data will improve
better decision-making on behalf of our customers. USDA will have authorized users that are farmers’ ability to produce diagnostic
able to discover the existence of data, obtain the data they need, and have it automatically information on crop health and make
available as needed. more informed decisions.
17 17
Alignment to USDA Strategic Goals
USDA Mission Areas and Agencies achieve their strategic priorities through Information Technology.
18
Implementing the USDA IT Strategic Plan
The strategic framework presented in this document is another step towards achieving
our vision of delivering simple, seamless, and secure solutions the American public has
come to expect in every other aspect of their lives.
In the coming months USDA will translate these goals, objectives, and strategies into
specific targets, and incorporate them into all aspects of our on-going management
efforts. We will also implement a monitoring program so that designated leaders will be
accountable for delivery, and drive USDA towards measurable outcomes.
Throughout this process we will ensure on-going alignment with the USDA Strategic Plan,
monitor broader Federal, USDA, and technology environments, and adjust where needed
to ensure we stay on track.
1199
USDA’s Commitment to the IT Strategic Plan
Our commitment is to work collaboratively to invest in
and implement the strategies in this plan in a manner
that improves the delivery of our mission and enhances
customer experiences with the Department.
Gary Washington Bajinder Paul
USDA Chief Information Officer USDA Deputy Chief Information
Officer
USDA IT Leaders
Chris Alvares Darren Ash Cedric Bragg Anthony Brannum Donna Bowman JaNelle DeVore Lorna Drennen Renee Gore
Acting Chief Data Officer Assistant CIO Assistant CIO Associate CIO Acting Assistant CIO Chief Information Assistant CIO Assistant CIO
Farm Production and Departmental Client Experience Center Trade and Foreign Security Officer Research, Education Food, Nutrition and
Conservation Administration Agricultural Affairs and Economics Consumer Services
Laura Hill Kim Jackson Carl Mayes Tim McCrosson Sergio McKenzie Dave Peters Ron Sequeira John Trifiletti
Acting Assistant CIO Associate Chief Assistant CIO Assistant CIO Assistant CIO Associate Chief Geospatial Information Director Information
Natural Resources and Information Officer, Food Safety Rural Development Marketing and Regulatory Information Officer, Officer Technology Division,
Environment Information Resource Programs Digital Infrastructure Office of the Inspector
Management Center Services Center General
*Chief Technology Officer is not pictured as that position was vacant during the development of this plan.
20
Contact Information
For more information or questions regarding this plan, please contact sm.ocio.cio.irmcoffice@usda.gov.
Additional copies of this Strategic Plan can be downloaded from USDA’s Web site at: www.usda.gov
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g.,
Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or
USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay
Service at (800) 877-8339.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Issued June 2022
21