New Algorithm Shapes Guardian Career Development

Starting in September, Aptima Inc. will begin its second year of work with the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Enterprise Talent Management Office (ETMO). The effort is focused on advancing a skills- and capability-based approach to managing Guardian careers.

USSF is developing a workforce model that draws talent from both military and commercial technology sectors. To support this, ETMO, with earlier assistance from Aptima, created a framework to organize and apply skills more effectively across the Guardian force.

In the second year of the contract, Aptima is designing an algorithm to align Guardian profiles with USSF position requirements. The system is intended to consider skills, backgrounds, and career objectives while also helping Guardians plan and manage their careers.

“Space Force is taking a highly innovative yet systematic approach to its workforce development. That includes a system designed to better accommodate and fit Guardians, who are bringing a more diverse set of skills and backgrounds, with its needs,” said Dr. Samantha Emerson, scientist in Aptima’s Performance Augmentation Division and Project Manager for the contract.

The framework will also identify training or experience gaps for Guardians pursuing advancement. By connecting individual skills with organizational needs, the system aims to fill positions across specialties such as cyber, intelligence, space engineering, and acquisitions more efficiently.

“The Space Force vision is for Guardians to be able grow and manage their careers in a more flexible, less linear way than a typical service trajectory, while providing them with more transparency and tools. This means having a good understanding of the unique skills and capabilities that each Guardian brings with them to the force and how those abilities relate to the possible roles they could fill,” added Emerson.

The initiative is expected to improve both service readiness and Guardian career development.