Education and Professional Development Colloquium (EPD)

Technical Advisor for the SAF Studies and Analysis Agency

Dr. Phillips is currently the Technical Advisor for the SAF Studies and Analysis Agency, Pentagon, Washington D.C. In this capacity, she serves as the Functional Manager for DAF 15As and represents the 15XX occupational series on the Science and Engineering Council. Dr. Phillips is the Executive Agent for both RAND PAF and is responsible for improving the availability of analytic tools and data to DAF Analytic Community.

Dr. Phillips previously served as the Division Chief for the HQ AFMC/A9A where she led analytic and decision support to AFMC senior leaders, matrixed support to functionals, 2-Ltrs, and Centers, and served as the AFMC Chief Analyst. As Chief Analyst, she was functional manager for all MAJCOM 15As and the Scientist & Engineer (S&E) 1515 positions and chaired the AFMC Analytic Steering Group which was responsible for the professional and career development of the AFMC analytic workforce.

Dr. Phillips started her federal service in 1994 and served as an active duty and reserve Air Force operations research analyst for 23 years before retiring. As part of her military duties, she had several analytics assignments covering a variety of application areas to include, personnel analysis, a variety of mobility analyses, OPLAN feasibility analysis, as well as teaching in the Math Department at USAFA and serving as the Deputy CAG Chief for the USAFA Superintendent. After leaving active duty she worked at Argonne National Laboratory focusing on risk and resilience modeling of national critical infrastructure for the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security. She was the Methodology Deputy for the Risk and Infrastructure Science Center where she supervised matrixed employees across the Center to ensure analytic rigor and consistency across the entire Center portfolio.

Technical Director, Operations Analysis Directorate, Headquarters Marine Corps Combat Development and Integration

Dr. John Young serves as the Technical Director of the Operations Analysis Directorate (OAD), Headquarters Marine Corps, Combat Development and Integration (CD&I), Quantico, VA. He is responsible for ensuring Marine Corps studies and analysis are high quality and aligned to issues relevant to the Marine Corps senior leaders.

Dr. Young is responsible for the quality of dozens of studies and related efforts annually, the development of analytic professionals in the Marine Corps, and ensuring those analysts are equipped to perform their functions. Dr. Young coordinates the efforts of the Analytic Community of Interest across the Marine Corps and serves as the service sponsor of the Military Operations Research Society (MORS). Dr. Young oversees USMC research and development related to operations research and modeling and simulation.

Prior to joining OAD, Dr. Young had a diverse career in public and private sector working in and around the Joint Force. Most recently, he was a civilian with the US Air Force, Studies and Analysis as a branch chief for joint campaign analysis managing a team of 6-9 analysts in the development of assessments and integrated analytic databases. Dr. Young received an award for Meritorious Civilian Service for his efforts in campaign analysis and net assessments. Dr. Young served at SAF/SA from 2019 – 2022.

Prior to the Air Force, Dr. Young was in the private sector for five years with MITRE, a systems engineering FFRDC from 2015-2019. There, Dr. Young worked a myriad of engineering and mission level focus groups for government sponsors such as USMC CDD, OPNAV N81, NAVAIR, USMC SYSCOM, USCG RDC, CAA, and PACAF and maintained a breadth of knowledge on services’ equities and programs. Prior to MITRE, Dr. Young was a civilian with the Joint Staff J8 Warfighting Analysis Division (WAD), conducting campaign analysis for the joint force and assessing inter-service capabilities and capacities for a variety of warfighting topics. Dr. Young was awarded a Joint Civilian Commendation and Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award for dual efforts on munitions and infrastructure while at WAD. Dr. Young had begun his federal career before WAD at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center, where he conducted analyses related to logistics and resupply, counter-terrorism, and counter-proliferation.

Dr. Young has been an active member of the Military Operations Research Society (MORS), first serving as a Working Group chair for Modeling and Simulation in 2014. Dr. Young spent 5 years on the board of directors, culminating in serving as the society’s annual symposium chair in 2020.

Dr. Young completed his PhD in Modeling and Simulation at Old Dominion University in 2019. He also has a Masters of Engineering in Modeling and Simulation from Old Dominion University, awarded in 2007. He holds a bachelors in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, graduating in 2002. Dr. Young lives in Fredericksburg, VA with wife Mary and sons Matt (16) and Teddy (9).