SRO facilitates and enhances OPA’s effectiveness in meeting the research and analytic needs of the P&R enterprise by providing OPA-wide strategic processes and tactical support. Our division vision is to ensure OPA’s capabilities are well-understood by our stakeholders and that our efforts align with P&R priorities.
About OPA
The Office of People Analytics (OPA) was established in 2016 to develop cutting-edge analytical methods and solutions for more effective personnel management in the Department of War (DoW).
Our Approach
In order to glean deeper insights and assess the efficacy of current and future DoW policies, we draw upon our interdisciplinary expertise to analyze broader patterns via three key capabilities:
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Assess the Service Member Life Cycle
Examine the attitudes, opinions, and behaviors of prospective and current Service members across their entire military career.
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Utilize Cutting-Edge Analytical Methods
Use data science methodology on existing and new research to produce innovative and actionable insights for decision makers.
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Provide Data-Driven Recommendations, Solutions, and Tools
Use our cross-division expertise and data to guide recommendations and improve personnel programs and policies.
Our Divisions
OPA programs provide innovative, cost-effective data solutions and foster collaboration efforts to benefit the DoW community. Its divisions comprise experts in various fields such as statistics, psychology, applied social science, information technology, and marketing outreach.
Strategic Research Operations (SRO)
Cost-of-living and Housing Allowances Division (CHAD)
This team of economists, statisticians and program managers govern the Department’s annual station and housing allowances portfolio for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Military Compensation Policy Directorate. Staff expertise and experience includes survey design, market index development, statistical programming, finance, geospatial analysis, market research analysis, compensation policy, database management and program evaluation. Visit the Allowances Division for more information.
Data Science · Statistics · Survey Support (DS4)
DS4 delivers timely, accurate, and actionable insights to OPA and stakeholders through our expertise in statistics, data science, surveys, as well as our commitment to rigorous research and analytics. DS4 also provides innovative and scalable tools and processes, expert consultation, and direct analytical support, amplifying OPA's effectiveness in meeting the analytical and research needs of the P&R enterprise. DS4's responsive and high-quality technical work ensures reliable and replicable results, empowering informed decision-making.
Defense Testing & Assessment Center (DTAC)
DTAC provides fair and accurate measurement of examinees’ abilities and interests, efficient delivery of tests, and high-quality career exploration and planning tools.
Joint Advertising, Market Research & Studies (JAMRS)
JAMRS eliminates redundancies and fosters efficiencies across DoW’s recruiting efforts to ensure that shared efforts are performed once for the entire department rather than individually by each Service’s marketing program.
Office of the Actuary (OACT)
OACT conducts annual valuations of the Military Retirement System, education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), health care for the military retired population and the Voluntary Separation Incentive program. These valuations include projecting personnel, pay and benefits and calculating annual DoW contribution costs, as well as determining program unfunded liabilities and their amortizations. The Office also responds to requests for cost estimates of proposed changes in benefits from DoW, other government agencies and military service support groups.
Personnel Surveys and Analytics Division (PSAD)
PSAD conducts research and analysis on the military, their families, and civilian-employees on topics related to resilience, readiness, retention-intention, command climate, and sensitive topics such as sexual assault and suicide prevention. We publish key metrics on personnel programs and policies, and we provide analytic support for emergent issues.
Our Leadership
Office of People AnalyticsRachel Breslin
Deputy Director of the Defense Personnel Analytics Center (DPAC)
Rachel Breslin serves as the Acting Deputy Director of the Defense Personnel Analytics Center (DPAC), where she provides executive leadership across a broad portfolio of research and analytic capabilities focused on the Department’s most pressing personnel and readiness challenges. Dr. Breslin is an applied social scientist and retired Army officer with extensive experience leading organizations, developing research strategies, and applying evidence to improve policies and programs affecting Service members and their families.
As Acting Deputy Director, Dr. Breslin also leads Strategic Research Operations within DPAC. In that capacity, she leads efforts to strengthen the integration, prioritization, and impact of research across DPAC’s portfolio, ensuring research efforts are aligned with Department priorities and positioned to inform policy decisions.
Prior to joining DPAC leadership, Dr. Breslin served as a Senior Research Advisor and Program Manager within the DoW Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), where she developed and led the office’s research and analytic strategy to improve program oversight and evidence-informed decision-making. She previously served as Chief of Research within the Office of People Analytics, where she was a Principal Investigator for multiple large-scale surveys and complex studies of the military workforce.
Dr. Breslin served 25 years as a U.S. Army officer in multiple leadership and advisory roles, including assignments supporting senior Army and Joint leaders. Her military career included command and staff positions across operational environments, providing firsthand experience with the personnel, readiness, and organizational challenges facing military leaders.
Dr. Breslin has expertise in social science research methods, program evaluation, and military personnel and readiness topics. She holds a PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration from The George Washington University, a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown University, and a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point. She has published peer-reviewed research in public management and military personnel policy.
Ashlea Klahr
Director of the DoW Office of People Analytics (OPA)
Ashlea Klahr serves as the Director of the DoW Office of People Analytics (OPA). She has more than eight years of experience conducting high-impact research, leading research teams, and generating actionable insights across a range of efforts within DoW. Dr. Klahr was appointed the Director of OPA in December 2024.
Prior to her current role, Dr. Klahr was the director of the Health & Resilience (H&R) Research Division within OPA. In that capacity, she oversaw teams conducting research and analytic efforts that informed policies and programs within the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD[P&R]) Office of Force Resiliency (OFR), including multiple Congressionally required surveys and a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative research efforts. She oversaw the redesign and modernization of the Defense Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS) and multiple efforts to improve and expand upon the Department’s Command Climate Assessment (CCA) analytic capabilities.
Prior to joining the federal government, Dr. Klahr supported the Joint Advertising, Market Research and Studies (JAMRS) and H&R divisions of OPA as a DoW contractor, conducting research and analysis focused on influencers and their likelihood to recommend and support military service, the impact of current events on the general public’s views of military service, quality of life and well-being of military recruiters, and risk factors associated with experiencing sexual assault in the Military.
Dr. Klahr has expertise in social science research methods, statistical analysis, clinical psychology, and military personnel topics. She holds a PhD and an MA in clinical psychology from Michigan State University and a BA in psychology from Grove City College. She completed a predoctoral clinical internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Chicago. She has published peer-reviewed research across a range of topics, including behavioral genetics, developmental psychopathology, and parent-child relationships.