• John Haman

    Statistics

    Test Science Lead

    Bayesian Methods; Computational Statistics; Regression

    Dr. John Haman has been a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses since 2018. He is the portfolio lead for the Test Science team, and the project leader for the Methods Development task. His overall research interest is identifying effective and pragmatic statistical methods that align to DOD assumptions and analytics goals. He earned a Ph.D. in Statistics from Bowling Green State University studying Energy Statistics under Maria Rizzo, and a B.S. in Mathematics from Truman State University.
    John Haman
    Statistics

  • Kelly Avery

    Statistics

    Experimental Design; Statistical Modeling & Simulation; Statistics Education

    Dr. Kelly M. Avery is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. She supports the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation on the use of statistics in test and evaluation and modeling and simulation, and has designed tests and conducted statistical analyses for several major defense programs, including tactical aircraft, missile systems, radars, satellite systems, and computer-based intelligence systems. As part of the Test Science team, she focuses on training, education, and outreach to help ensure that the broader community has access relevant to research, case studies, and tools. Her areas of expertise include statistical modeling, design of experiments, modeling and simulation validation, and statistical process control. Kelly has a B.S. in Statistics, an M.S. in Applied Statistics, and a Ph.D. in Statistics, all from Florida State University. She was a Visiting Scholar with the United States Air Force Academy Operations Research Program from 2019–2020.
    Kelly Avery
    Statistics

  • Breeana Anderson

    Chemical Biology

    Assistant Director

    Policy & Guidance; Operational Testing; Data Analysis

    Dr. Breeana Anderson is an Operational Evaluation Division Assistant Director and Portfolio Lead for Strategic Initiatives, Policy, and Emerging Technologies (SIPET). Since joining IDA in 2015, she has provided analytical support for a variety of Army and Joint systems, including serving as the Project Lead for Chemical and Biological Weapons Defense systems and Soldier systems. She has worked on the SIPET portfolio since 2021 with a focus on developing and improving test and evaluation policy and guidance across multiple focus areas. As Assistant Director, she is focused on research strategy, planning, and execution. Breeana has a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology[WJL1] from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Georgetown University.
    Breeana Anderson
    Chemical Biology

  • Rebecca Medlin

    Statistics

    Experimental Design; Reliability; Statistical Quality Control

    Dr. Rebecca Medlin is a Research Staff Member in the Operational Evaluation Division at the Institute for Defense Analysis. She supports program work for the Air Warfare, Land Warfare, and Netcentric Warfare groups with expertise in statistics. Her areas of statistical expertise include Design of Experiments and Reliability Analysis. Additionally, as a member of the Operational Evaluation Division Test Science team, she provides input to draft policy for DOT&E; helps in advancing the rigor and application of statistical methodologies to test and evaluation (e.g., sequential test design); and helps in the development of training materials for IDA analysts, DOT&E Action Officers, and the test and evaluation community at large. In addition to task work, Rebecca has been instrumental in organizing the DATAWorks program since 2019. DATAWorks is the result of a multi-organization collaboration with DOT&E, NASA, IDA, and the ASA/SDNS. Rebecca continues to regularly publish research and case studies in academic journals. Rebecca has a B.A. in Mathematics from Millersville University (2009), and an M.S. (2010) and Ph.D. (2014) in Statistics from Virginia Tech.
    Rebecca Medlin
    Statistics

  • Thomas Johnson

    Aerospace Engineering

    Experimental Design; Sample Size Determination; Validation of Computer Simulation

    Dr. Thomas Johnson is a data scientist with expertise in test design, statistical modeling, and modeling and simulation validation. With over 13 years at the Institute for Defense Analyses, he has advanced live fire testing and operational evaluation for armored vehicles and rotorcraft, and provided support to the Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from Old Dominion University and Boston University.
    Thomas Johnson
    Aerospace Engineering

  • Brian Vickers

    Cognitive Psychology

    Behavioral Science; Decision Making; Data Science

    Dr. Brian Vickers is a Research Staff Member on the Test Science team. In this role, he primarily focuses on improving test rigor of artificial intelligence and advanced autonomous systems for the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. He has supported related efforts for CDAO, DARPA, DHS, and the IC. Prior to IDA, Brian consulted on machine learning and data science efforts in the automotive space. He earned his Ph.D. in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Michigan in 2015. His research investigated people’s decision processes, including using machine learning to decode neural patterns that predict decisions.
    Brian Vickers
    Cognitive Psychology

  • Keyla Pagán-Rivera

    Biostatistics

    Biostatistics; Bayesian Statistics

    Dr. Keyla Pagán-Rivera holds a Ph.D. in Biostatistics and is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). She is the Project Leader of the Training, Tools, and External Engagements task in the Operational Evaluation Division at IDA. Keyla also supports the office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation on training, research, and applications of statistical methods for the planning and evaluation of military systems.
    Keyla Pagán-Rivera
    Biostatistics

  • Denise Edwards

    Statistics

    Policy & Guidance; USAF Colonel, Reserve

    Denise Edwards is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, having served as the Lead Analyst for Command and Control and Sensor Systems since 2008. Additionally, she has supported DOT&E since 2018 on developing and improving test and evaluation policy and guidance across multiple focus areas. Ms. Edwards is also a Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve currently serving as the Senior Reservist to the Program Officer, Weapons at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Colonel Edwards has also served as the Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Integration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Technology and Logistics; and the Mobilization Assistant to the Director Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, Air Force Special Operations Command. Denise has an M.S. in Mathematics (Statistics) from the University of West Florida, an M.Ed. in Mathematics and Education from the University of Hawaii, and a B.A. in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Potsdam.
    Denise Edwards
    Statistics

  • Elizabeth Green

    Experimental Psychology – Cognitive Neuroscience

    Survey Design; Judgment & Decision Making; Psychological Methods

    Elizabeth A. Green, Ph.D., provides expertise on evaluating human-systems interaction during operational testing for the DOD. Her Test Science research focuses on improving assessment of situational awareness during operational testing. Within the warfare areas, she primarily supports assessment of Land Expeditionary Warfare programs. Elizabeth received a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology with a certificate in Psychological Methods and Analysis in 2021 from Texas Tech University and an M.A. in Psychology in 2013 from Marietta College. Her academic research focuses on metacognition, learning, and performance.
    Elizabeth Green
    Experimental Psychology – Cognitive Neuroscience

  • Miriam Armstrong

    Human Factors Psychology

    Human Factors

    Miriam Armstrong is a Human Factors Researcher at the Institute for Defense Analyses. She received her Ph.D. in Human Factors Psychology in 2021 from Texas Tech University. She uses her expertise in experimental design, survey methods, human performance measures, human-machine interaction, and operational testing to support the evaluation of human-systems integration for the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation and the creation of guidance for the Assessment and Assurance division of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.
    Miriam Armstrong
    Human Factors Psychology

  • Curtis Miller

    Mathematics

    Statistics; Mathematics; Statistical Programming

    Dr. Curtis Miller is a Research Staff Member in the Operational Evaluation Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses. In that role, he advises analysts on effective use of statistical techniques, especially pertaining to modeling and simulation activities and U.S. Navy operational test and evaluation efforts, for the division's primary sponsor, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. He obtained a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Utah and has several publications on statistical methods and computational data analysis, including an R package.
    Curtis Miller
    Mathematics

  • Jay Dennis

    Economics

    Econometrics; Statistics; Data Science

    Dr. John W. Dennis (Jay) is a Research Staff Member specializing in Econometrics, Statistics, and Data Science in IDA’s Test Science and Human Capital Groups. His work involves developing and evaluating statistical and econometric methodology for use in Human Capital and Test and Evaluation communities; applications of forecasting, causal inference, and prospective policy analysis for DOD personnel management; development of guidance for development, evaluation, and use of artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled capabilities; and evaluation and assurance of Responsible Artificial Intelligence within the DOD. He joined IDA after receiving his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
    Jay Dennis
    Economics

  • Adam Miller

    Human-System Interaction

    Behavioral Neuroscience, Data Analysis

    Dr. Adam Miller is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. He works in the Operational Evaluation Division supporting Human-Systems Interaction evaluations of Land and Expeditionary Warfare systems. Previously, Adam worked as a neuroscientist at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. He has a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Cornell University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Providence College.
    Adam Miller
    Human-System Interaction

  • Addison Adams

    Statistics

    Adams

    Nonparametric Statistics; Stochastic Inverse Problems; Random Coefficient Regression; Identifiability

    Dr. Addison Adams is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Addison works as part of the Test Science group and the Land and Expeditionary Warfare group. Previously, he has worked as a health actuary and provided statistical expertise to a United States Forest Service research group. Addison holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Utah Valley University and a PhD in Statistics from Colorado State University.
    Addison Adams
    Statistics

  • Dhruv Patel

    Statistics and Operations Research

    Dr. Dhruv Patel is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses and he contributes to multiple research teams, including the Test Science and the Net-centric groups. His primary research interests involve modeling and simulation, uncertainty quantification, time series, and network theory. He earned a Ph.D. in Statistics and Operations Research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023.
    Dhruv Patel
    Statistics and Operations Research

  • Leonard "Jay" Wilkins

    Mathematics

    Topological Data Analysis; Hybrid Modeling; Geometric Statistics
    Leonard "Jay" Wilkins
    Mathematics

  • Sarah Shaffer

    Experimental Psychology

    Human Factors

    Dr. Sarah Shaffer received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Florida International University in 2020 and completed her M.S. in Psychology at Arizona State University. Her academic research focuses on applications of metacognition and memory to information management decisions in intelligence collection and elicitation. Prior to joining IDA, Sarah completed a research fellowship within the Department of Justice. She currently supports evaluation of Human-Systems Interaction and Human-Computer Interaction within Test Science and the Cyber Assessment Program at IDA.
    Sarah Shaffer
    Experimental Psychology

  • Tyler Morgan-Wall

    Physics

    Design of Experiments, R

    Dr. Tyler Morgan-Wall is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, and is the developer of the software library skpr: an R package developed at IDA for optimal design generation and Monte Carlo power evaluation. He also wrote the skprJMP JMP add-in, which provides JMP users with the capability to perform Monte Carlo power calculations for designs with binomial responses. Additionally, he is the author of several other R packages for data visualization, mapping, and spatial data processing. He received a PhD in Physics from Johns Hopkins University in 2015, and a B.A. in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009.
    Tyler Morgan-Wall
    Physics

Test Science Alumni