Data and AI Workforce Roles

Start Here If You Are New to Data and AI Workforce Roles

MCO 5231.4 defines specific WORKFORCE ROLES for data and AI. Enclosure 2 defines 14 DATA WORKFORCE ROLES. Enclosure 3 defines 7 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WORKFORCE ROLES. The DoD CDAO and OUSD(R&E) memorandum (5 January 2024) directs services to align billets to 11 Data, Analytics, and AI (DA&AI) Workforce roles using three-digit work role codes. The Marine Corps is identifying USMC MOSs aligned to DA&AI Workforce roles via CD&I, TECOM, MIU, and DC I working groups. Senior leadership roles include the MARINE CORPS SERVICE DATA OFFICER (MC SDO), ASSOCIATE DATA OFFICERS (ADOs), DATA STEWARDS, and COMMAND DATA AND ANALYTICS OFFICERS (CDAOs). Technical roles include AI/ML Engineer, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Data Architect, and others. Per MCO 5231.4 Enclosures 2 and 3.

This page walks you through Data and AI Workforce roles from your seat as a Marine. By the end you will know.

• The 14 Data Workforce roles
• The 7 AI Workforce roles
• Leadership and governance roles
• Technical roles
• DA&AI Workforce alignment with USMC MOS and civilian work codes
• Three-digit work role codes (OSD CDAO direction)
• Career pathways in data and AI
• How to align with a workforce role

Every fact on this page comes from MCO 5231.4 Enclosures 2 and 3, MARADMIN 270/25, OSD CDAO/OUSD(R&E) Memorandum (5 January 2024), USMC AI Implementation Plan, and DON CIO Memorandum (26 March 2020).

The 14 Data Workforce Roles

Per MCO 5231.4 Enclosure 2.

1. Marine Corps Service Data Officer (MC SDO)

Responsible for managing and overseeing the implementation of data governance and data management policies within the Marine Corps. Assists the DON CDO in development of data management policies. Single Marine Corps authority to appoint ADOs.

2. Associate Data Officer (ADO)

Responsible for managing and overseeing the implementation of data management policies within respective organization. Assists the SDO with development and enforcement of data management policies.

3. Data Steward

Responsible for creating and implementing data management policies, maintaining quality of data within their domain, and coordinating across domains. Establishes policies governing authoritative data access, use, protection, quality, and dissemination for Authoritative Data Sources (ADS).

4. Data Custodian

Responsible for mission and business data-related tasks. Acquires, collects, tags, and processes data. Grants individual users' access to additional information beyond general systems.

5. Command Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO)

Responsible for implementing enterprise and domain-specific data management policies. Maintains the quality of data within sub-domains. Facilitates use of tools to drive data-enabled decision making. Each FMF command appoints a CDAO to participate in the FDWG and AIWG.

6. Data Producer

Responsible for producing and managing data per data management policies. Rectifies data quality issues. Participates in data governance activities.

7. System Owner

Responsible for maintaining systems. Ensures availability, integrity, and confidentiality of data within the system. Provides appropriate system access to data consumers and producers.

8. Data Architect

Responsible for overall data functional construct of an organization. Designs data architecture, data models, databases, and data integration solutions. Designs the eco-system (procedures, governance, architectures) to hold, manage, process, and preserve or dispose of data.

9. Analytic Developer

Designs, codes, and tests software for exploration and processing of data. Discovers and identifies meaningful information and trends.

10. Data Analytics Specialist

Responsible for querying, engineering, and analyzing data per data management policies. Supports mission and business functions.

11. Data Engineer

Responsible for conditioning data to fit within data architecture. Transforms data through extraction/cleansing/transformation/loading (ECTL, aka data munging). Implements data systems that separate data from application and scale as required.

12. Data Modeler

Responsible for reviewing and validating data requirements. Provides technical data solutions. Designs logical and physical data structures for domain-specific needs.

13. Data Scientist

Responsible for creating repeatable means to draw key insights and signals from data. Invents, perfects, or applies algorithms. Specialist in mathematical, computational, and visualization techniques.

14. Data Security Engineer

Responsible for protecting data resources from unauthorized discovery, access, use, modification, and destruction. Designs and implements Zero Trust architecture for data protection. Manages data identification, categorization, labeling, entitlement, and policy.

The 7 AI Workforce Roles

Per MCO 5231.4 Enclosure 3.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Researcher

AI technology and research expert. Pushes Marine Corps AI capability forward. Develops new foundational AI techniques and applications. Predicts and prepares for future use cases. Informs innovative approaches to using AI tools.

2. Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Engineer

Builds, tests, integrates, and deploys AI tools. Provides coding and programming expertise. Understands how AI tools will be used. Ensures alignment to ethical AI principles.

3. Test and Evaluation Engineer

Evaluates system capabilities and limitations. Identifies operational risks. Accounts for warfighter's use cases. Understands and identifies AI failure modes. Characterizes performance within and outside operational parameters.

4. Deployment Engineer

Manages integration, deployment, and operation of AI systems for combat and non-combat uses. Capable of executing enterprise scale (network, compute infrastructure, data engineering pipelines). Manages systems infrastructure.

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technician

Sets up systems to collect and analyze data. Conducts troubleshooting for ML models. Creates data capture and sharing for combat and non-combat systems. Initial point of contact for the Marine Corps workforce for help with AI tools.

6. Product Owner

Turns the product vision into an actionable backlog. Voice of the Marine Corps workforce. Advocates for Marines and civilians in front of AI development teams. Optimizes AI tool development process. Coordinates with deployment engineers.

7. User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX)

Designs AI tool interfaces for usability and accessibility. Ensures interface supports end user accessibility. Collaborates with personnel that create AI. Shapes how the Marine Corps workforce interacts with AI systems and tools.

Leadership and Governance Roles

These are the senior data and AI roles in the Marine Corps.

MC SDO

Principal advisor to the Commandant. Chairs FDWG and AIWG. Final approval authority for Marine Corps data and AI.

ADOs

Appointed by MC SDO in writing. Implement data management policies in respective organizations.

Data Stewards (12 designated by domain)

• DC I. Enterprise Operations Management, Intelligence, and Geospatial.
• DC CD&I. Warfighting and Force Application.
• DC P&R. Financial.
• DC M&RA. Human Resources and Human Capital.
• DC AVN. Aviation.
• DC PP&O. Readiness.
• DC I&L. Logistics and Sustainment.
• COMMARCORSYSCOM. Acquisition.
• CG TECOM. Training and Education.
• Communication Directorate (CD). Visual Information.
• Office of Legislative Affairs. Legislative.
• CL and SJA. Legal.

CDAOs

Appointed by FMF Commanders. Implement enterprise and domain-specific data policies. Participate in FDWG and AIWG.

Technical Roles

These are the operational data and AI execution roles.

Data-Focused Technical

• Data Custodian.
• Data Producer.
• Data Architect.
• Data Engineer.
• Data Modeler.
• Data Scientist.
• Data Security Engineer.
• Analytic Developer.
• Data Analytics Specialist.

AI-Focused Technical

• AI Researcher.
• AI/ML Engineer.
• Test and Evaluation Engineer.
• Deployment Engineer.
• AI Technician.
• Product Owner.
• UI/UX.

DA&AI Workforce Alignment

Per OSD CDAO/OUSD(R&E) Memorandum (5 January 2024). The Office of Secretary of Defense directed services to collaborate on assigning three-digit work role codes to civilian and military billets performing tasks aligned to the 11 DA&AI Workforce roles.

USMC Implementation

CD&I, TECOM, MIU, and DC I representatives established and led an informal OPT to develop a Data Management and Analysis Training and Education Implementation Plan. Primary output was preliminary identification of USMC MOSs aligned to DA&AI Workforce roles.

Designated Career Paths

The Marine Corps is creating designated career paths via an available platform for MOS and civilian work codes aligned to the specified data work roles.

Three-Digit Work Role Codes

The work role codes provide a standardized way to identify and track data and AI billets across the DoD.

Career Pathways

For Marines

Marines can pursue data and AI roles through.

• MOS alignment to DA&AI Workforce roles (in development).
• Training pathways via MARINENET, Digital University, NPS, USNCC.
• NPS AI Fellowship (see AI Fellowship Programs (NPS)).
• Specialized assignments under DC I SDO or supporting commands.
• Continued professional development.

For Civilians

Civilians can pursue data and AI roles through.

• Civilian work code alignment to DA&AI Workforce roles.
• DoD CDAO Digital Commons resources.
• Digital University (USAF) pathways.
• USNCC programs (WGU Data Analytics, UMGC Cybersecurity).
• Marine Corps civilian education programs.

For DA&AI Workforce Members

Marines and civilians in DA&AI roles receive.

• Training opportunities aligned to role.
• Career development support.
• Network connections through CDAO Digital Commons.
• Specialized assignments at HQMC SDO, NPS, MCSWF.

How to Align With a Workforce Role

Step 1. Identify the Role

Review the 14 Data and 7 AI Workforce roles. Identify which fits your interests, skills, and current position.

Step 2. Talk to Your Command

Engage your command. Determine if your current billet aligns with a data or AI workforce role.

Step 3. Engage Career Resources

• Career Counselor for assignment planning.
• Education Center for training pathways.
• Family Readiness Officer for transition support if pursuing major change.

Step 4. Pursue Training

Start with foundational training and build to specialized expertise. See AI and Data Management Training.

Step 5. Seek Aligned Assignments

For Marines, B-billet assignments at HQMC SDO, MCSWF, or other AI-focused commands provide alignment opportunities.

Common Errors

Assuming Only Officers Pursue These Roles

Workforce roles include enlisted (E4-E8 for NPS AI Fellowship), CWO, and civilian (GS-5 through GS-14) ranks.

Mitigation. All ranks have access to AI workforce pathways.

Failing to Update MOS Coding

As DA&AI Workforce alignment matures, MOS coding will reflect roles. Marines who do not update administrative information miss alignment.

Mitigation. Coordinate with S-1 as MOS coding rolls out.

Treating Data and AI as Equivalent

Data Workforce and AI Workforce are related but distinct. A Data Engineer is not an AI/ML Engineer.

Mitigation. Understand the specific role you are pursuing.

Skipping Foundational Training

Pursuing advanced roles without foundational data literacy or AI awareness training.

Mitigation. Build up from Basic AI Course and II MEF Basic Data Literacy.

Cross References

• For overall AI framework, see AI Overview and Authorities
• For training pathways, see AI and Data Management Training
• For NPS AI Fellowship, see AI Fellowship Programs (NPS)
• For governance under DC I SDO, see AI Governance and Approval
• For mandatory training, see Basic AI Course (Mandatory)

Quick Reference

• Authority. MCO 5231.4 Enclosures 2 and 3.
• Data Workforce roles. 14 defined.
• AI Workforce roles. 7 defined.
• DA&AI Workforce roles (DoD-wide). 11 directed by OSD CDAO/OUSD(R&E).
• Work role codes. Three-digit (in development for USMC).
• Senior roles. MC SDO, ADO, Data Steward, CDAO.
• Lead command for workforce. DC I SDO.

Records To Keep

• Awareness of which workforce role aligns with your work
• Training records aligned to your role
• Assignment history demonstrating role progression
• Civilian work code or MOS designation (as updated)

If you have a question about Data or AI Workforce roles, your unit S-1 routes to DC I SDO for headquarters-level questions. For career planning, your Career Counselor and unit Family Readiness Officer support transition planning.