Army Evaluation Center

The Army Evaluation Center (AEC) plays a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness and safety of the Army's modernization programs. It functions as an independent evaluator for initiatives under the Army Futures Command (AFC) Cross Functional Team (CFT) and other Army and Joint Service programs, totaling over 700. The center is responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating all necessary program testing, acting as an unbiased authority in reporting system progress. AEC focuses on developing test strategies, verifying system safety, and analyzing data from early developmental tests through operational tests. It works closely with AFC to create Critical Operational Issues and Criteria (COIC), ensuring that testing targets essential aspects.

AEC aims to provide independent assessments of system effectiveness, suitability, survivability, and safety. This includes areas such as cybersecurity, electronic warfare (EW), artificial intelligence (AI), and the viability of emerging technologies. The center supports major acquisition decisions by evaluating system requirements to avoid unnecessary testing. Additionally, AEC contributes to the Chief of Staff of the Army's decision-making process by participating in the Army Capabilities Integration Development System (A-CIDS) processes and assisting AFC through the CFT concept.

The center is organized into seven directorates specializing in areas like analytics, artificial intelligence, aviation-fires evaluation, and ballistic missile defense evaluation. AEC provides direct support to AFC with personnel co-located with eight CFTs and other specialized offices such as the Rapid Capabilities-Critical Technology Office and the AI Task Force. Its competencies include identifying decision-makers' needs, planning test strategies, evaluating operational effectiveness, and offering unbiased advice on Army programs.

In terms of operational support, AEC manages logistical aspects such as facilities maintenance, software licenses for scientific methods, workforce training, and IT equipment lifecycle replacement. The center also invests in secure information processing capabilities to meet increasing demands related to classified information processing in support of Army modernization priorities. These efforts are vital for maintaining AEC's ability to provide comprehensive evaluations that inform critical decisions within the Army's modernization framework.