About SAC

Systems and Analyses Center

The Systems and Analyses Center (SAC) is a federally funded research and development center operated by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). SAC traces its roots to 1956, when IDA was formed. Initially, the focus was on weapon systems, tactical doctrine and force structure. Over succeeding decades, our research capabilities have broadened to meet the evolving needs of government sponsors.

Today, SAC maintains core expertise in systems and capabilities evaluations, technology assessments, force and strategy assessments, and resource and support analyses. SAC blends expertise in technologies and systems with deep knowledge of costs, economics, resources; intelligence and military operations; as well as advanced analytic methods. Through these, SAC is a key enabler of IDA’s mission to answer the most challenging U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise.

Federal agency sponsors

SAC was created to serve the joint community across the Department of Defense. The Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment serves as its primary sponsor. Core work sponsors include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, and the Defense Agencies and Field Activities. SAC also performs analyses for Military Departments, the Intelligence Community, and other Federal Government organizations when the work falls within SAC core capability areas and does not present a conflict of interest.

To assure objectivity and ensure freedom from conflicts of interest, SAC does not work for commercial firms, does not compete for federal contracts, and has no financial or other stake in the implementation of its findings. Our research products undergo a rigorous review process to verify the quality, independence and objectivity of the analysis.

Experienced, interdisciplinary staff

The multidisciplinary research staff at SAC include a wide range of disciplines, represented by staff with deep experience and state-of-the-art technical skills. Approximately 90% of the research staff have advanced degrees, with the majority in STEM-related (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. SAC augments the talents of its regular staff with a deep bench of adjunct staff members and consultants with specialized expertise when needed.

IDA encourages all its staff to be active professionally to maintain currency in methods and to promote career growth. Staff members are continually learning through engagement with each other, peers, outside experts and sponsors to improve the capabilities, methods and approaches they employ.

Areas of analysis

SAC’s analyses span a broad range of sponsor mission areas:

• Emerging technologies and their implications for operations.
• System and program evaluation.
• Technical and analytic support for test and evaluation.
• Operational and force planning.
• AI, cyber, microelectronics, data and information capabilities.
• Evaluating ISR, space, intelligence, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear issues.
• Acquisition, cost analysis, resource allocation, and economic issues.
• Sustainment and readiness of systems.
• Operational logistics and robust supply chains.
• Compensation, education and training, and other human capital issues.
• Evaluating institutions, management systems, processes and support issues.
• Global and regional security dynamics.
• Intelligence analyses.

Organizational structure

SAC comprises seven research divisions responsible for sustaining research capabilities and for producing timely, high-quality analyses for sponsors.

• Cost Analysis and Research Division.
• Global Dynamics and Intelligence Division.
• Information Technology and Systems Division.
• Joint Advanced Warfighting Division.
• Operational Evaluation Division.
• Science, Systems and Sustainment Division.
• Strategy, Forces and Resources Division

While each division has unique lines of research and expertise, complex sponsor challenges often require teams composed of researchers from across the organization. By bringing together individuals with the needed mix of backgrounds, skills, and experiences, research teams are able to provide high-quality analyses and solutions to national security challenges within the time and resources available. Our overriding goal is to improve government decision-making consistent with our core principles of providing rigorous analysis, trusted expertise, and service to the nation.