By Lauren Williams May 12, 2021 To transform the military into a data-centric organization, the Defense Department has laid out five "data decrees" to guide data sharing, storage and security. "Leaders at all levels have a responsibility to manage, understand, and responsibly share and protect data," Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks wrote in the memo that was publicly released May 10. "Common access to authoritative data is essential for providing a 'single source of truth' for objective and informed decision-making." The memo details DOD's five principles covering the creation, publication, protection, management and use of data: Maximize data sharing and rights for data use.