II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2904 

To require the Secretary of Defense to establish performance objectives and 

accompanying metrics for the incorporation of artificial intelligence and 

digital readiness into Department of Defense platforms, processes, and 

operations, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 

Mr. ROUNDS introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Defense to establish performance 

objectives and accompanying metrics for the incorporation of artificial intelligence and digital readiness into 

Department of Defense platforms, processes, and operations, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Defense 

5 Artificial Intelligence Metrics Act of 2021’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE METRICS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

3 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 

4 shall— 

5 (1) review the potential applications of artificial 

6 intelligence and digital technology to Department of 

7 Defense platforms, processes, and operations; and 

8 (2) establish performance objectives and accom9 panying metrics for the incorporation of artificial in10 telligence and digital readiness into such platforms, 

11 processes, and operations. 

12 (b) PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND ACCOMPANYING

13 METRICS.— 

14 (1) SKILL GAPS.—In carrying out subsection 

15 (a), the Secretary shall require each secretary of a 

16 military department and the head of each component 

17 of the Department shall— 

18 (A)(i) conduct a comprehensive review of 

19 skill gaps in the fields of software development, 

20 software engineering, knowledge management, 

21 data science, and artificial intelligence; 

22 (ii) assess the number and qualifications of 

23 civilian personnel needed for both management 

24 and specialist tracks in such fields; 

25 (iii) assess the number of military per26 sonnel (officer and enlisted) needed for both 


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1 management and specialist tracks in such 

2 fields; and 

3 (B) establish recruiting, training, and tal4 ent management performance objectives and ac5 companying metrics for achieving and maintain6 ing staffing levels needed to fill identified gaps 

7 and meet the needs of the Department for 

8 skilled personnel. 

9 (2) AI MODERNIZATION ACTIVITIES.—In car10 rying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 

11 (A) assess investment by the Department 

12 in artificial intelligence innovation, science and 

13 technology, and research and development; 

14 (B) assess investment by the Department 

15 in test and evaluation of artificial intelligence 

16 capabilities; and 

17 (C) establish performance objectives and 

18 accompanying metrics for artificial intelligence 

19 modernization activities of the Department. 

20 (3) EXERCISES, WARGAMES, AND EXPERIMEN21 TATION.—To assist the Secretary in carrying out 

22 subsection (a), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 

23 Staff shall— 


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1 (A) assess the integration of artificial intel2 ligence into war-games, exercises, and experi3 mentation; and 

4 (B) develop performance objectives and ac5 companying metrics for such integration. 

6 (4) LOGISTICS AND SUSTAINMENT.—In car7 rying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall require 

8 the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 

9 Sustainment— 

10 (A) to assess the application of artificial 

11 intelligence in logistics and sustainment sys12 tems; and 

13 (B) to establish performance objectives and 

14 accompanying metrics for integration of artifi15 cial intelligence in the Department of Defense 

16 logistics and sustainment enterprise. 

17 (5) BUSINESS AI APPLICATIONS.—In carrying 

18 out subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall— 

19 (A) assess the integration of artificial intel20 ligence for administrative functions that can be 

21 performed with robotic process automation and 

22 artificial intelligence-enabled analysis; and 

23 (B) establish performance objectives and 

24 accompanying metrics for the integration of ar25 tificial intelligence in priority business process 


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1 areas of the Department, including the fol2 lowing: 

3 (i) Human resources. 

4 (ii) Budget and finance, including 

5 audit. 

6 (iii) Retail. 

7 (iv) Real estate. 

8 (v) Health care. 

9 (vi) Logistics. 

10 (vii) Such other business processes as 

11 the Secretary considers appropriate. 

12 (c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 120 days 

13 after the completion of the review required by subsection 

14 (a)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional de15 fense committees (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, 

16 United States Code) a report on— 

17 (1) the findings of the Secretary with respect to 

18 the review and any action taken or proposed to be 

19 taken by the Secretary to address such findings; and 

20 (2) the performance objectives and accom21 panying metrics established under subsections (a)(2) 

22 and (b). 

Æ 


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