Dr. Robert (Bob) F. Brammer is President and CEO of Brammer Technology, LLC, a consultancy focusing on advanced information technology, environment and climate, and security. Brammer was Vice President for Advanced Technology and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Northrop Grumman’s Information Systems (IS) sector, before retiring in 2011.
WashingtonExec chatted with Brammer about his new venture, his management style, and why there is a shortage of skilled scientists. Brammer also reflected on his first job, as an analyst at NASA, and how big data analytics is changing the intelligence and healthcare communities.
WashingtonExec: Could you describe your background and what you do at Brammer Technology?
Bob Brammer: I am now an independent consultant. I set up this business a year ago when I retired from Northrop Grumman as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for the Information Systems Sector. When I retired, I realized that I had a number of opportunities to do different things. I have clients in cyber security, big data, advanced networking, and energy. I have much experience in these areas. However, there is still much to learn in all of them.
WashingtonExec: How would you describe your management style?
Bob Brammer: The words my staff members used over the years to describe my style were “engaged” and “supportive.” I certainly appreciated that. Sometimes they would use “intense” and “demanding,” but mostly I think I have a very proactive management style.
WashingtonExec: Do you think the U.S. has enough trained workers for 21st century jobs?
Bob Brammer: There are extreme shortages in some critical areas, such as several areas of advanced information technology, cybersecurity, and data science as well as in other areas of science and technology. The companies with which I do business are all looking for many people with strong analytical and communications skills. When you balance that statement against relatively high unemployment in the United States, you see that there is an apparent a mismatch.
There are some arguments about what causes high unemployment. Some cite lack of economic growth while others describe a mismatch in skills and growth areas. In the areas in which I spend most of my time there is no question that there are shortages of skilled people, and that situation is likely to get worse.
WashingtonExec: Why do you think it’s likely to get worse?
Bob Brammer: About half of the new jobs available in the country come from companies younger than five years old.
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Thus, the US needs to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship to create employment. If a technology is developing rapidly to stimulate the growth of a new market, then our educational system must develop rapidly to provide people with the right skills.”
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Given the rate of change in some of these critical areas, I think that the educational system will have difficulty in adjusting sufficiently quickly. If that is true, then we will see this situation become worse.
WashingtonExec: What role do you think big data has to play?
Bob Brammer: The role is enormous, and the applications are in many diverse areas. The exponential growth of information technology and the development of many types of systems for low-cost data collection are leading to big data opportunities.
We are seeing applications of big data analytical techniques in many areas of advanced research. For example, some important discoveries about our changing climate have come because people were able to analyze very large volumes of data within affordable systems.
Climate analytics requires some of the most powerful computer systems in the world. These systems include massive storage systems, very powerful computing, and advanced scientific models. Integrating large data sets from different areas creates new possibilities for understanding the interactions among climate variables and many important areas of the economy like the power grid or public health.
WashingtonExec: What do you think the biggest hurdle for those who are working with big data and national security?
Bob Brammer: There are several hurdles. We collect large volumes of information, and collection systems tend to outrun analytic systems and the availability of trained staff. That mismatch creates many challenges and opportunities. I think the shortfalls are in availability of skilled analysts, and in the automation processes for integrating and organizing information for rapid decision support.
WashingtonExec: What impact do you think archiving data from social media has on security?
Bob Brammer: The rapid development of social networking and social media has brought about many good things. For example, the current administration has stressed transparency in government. We now see many federal agencies on their websites saying, “Follow us on Facebook or Twitter.” I think that this has many positive implications for improving the effectiveness of our government.
However, challenges arise because social media systems are new, and people are just beginning to realize some of the security and privacy implications of social media systems. There have been several incidents with unfortunate consequences on such platforms as Facebook, LinkedIn, and others. New and undeveloped business processes can lead to many security risks.
There is even ambiguity with regard to what is a social media record. The National Archives and Records Administration has been trying to define some processes to address these challenges. Social media systems are a phenomenon with many potential benefits and with very immature processes and many new products. There are no standards and very little in the way of automation for handling this sort of information at the enterprise level. This is a new frontier in many ways.
WashingtonExec: What big data analysis methods are you excited about right now?
Bob Brammer: There are several that we could discuss. One of my personal favorites is scalable visualization. When an analyst begins work with a large set of information about which he may initially know very little, he needs effective ways of presenting that information visually so he can look for patterns and previously unknown relationships. This is particularly true for network data that arises, for example, in social media, computer networks, power grids, and transportation systems. The ability to present the information to the analyst and have her interact with the data visually is very important to produce quick results. However, this requires display technologies that can accommodate large volumes of data quickly.
There are some new developments there. There are also some new techniques which allow for the analysis of network connections; sub networks, patterns of traffic and so forth [that]can be done quickly even when these networks involve thousands or many millions of participants.
WashingtonExec: What sector is leading the way with big data?
Bob Brammer: I see leadership in parts of DOD and in the intelligence community. I am also impressed with what the financial services industry does to handle massive and rapidly changing financial information. There is also leadership at the National Institutes of Health in areas like genomics and proteomics. Of course, the Department of Energy labs operate some of the largest computing centers in the world, and they work in many areas with big data requirements like Smart Grid and climate. I am encouraged that we have so many different groups tackling aspects of these problems.
WashingtonExec: Are you doing anything to prepare for possible federal budget cuts in January?
Bob Brammer: The economy is tough all around. There are not as many new programs because of the potential cutbacks, so if you want to increase your market that means you must become involved in their ongoing programs.
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We need to build significant differentiation in capabilities while also showing the customer a credible approach to cost savings.”
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Significant prototype demonstrations can be effective in risk reduction for the customer. We are also working to supplement some of my clients’ funding through private investment, not only relying on federal dollars.
WashingtonExec: You have won an award for your work on the Apollo program. What would you say to people who want to cut funding for space projects?
Bob Brammer: My first job out of college was with NASA. I think the returns from the space program have really shown tremendous value, and there are direct commercial spinoffs. Of course, there is strong competition for financial resources and we have to manage resources for space exploration carefully. However, space exploration is an exciting area. It helps attract young people into science and engineering. As I said, that was my first job out of college. That was the lowest paying job offer that I received and I took it on the spot. I was very excited about going to the moon. I think part of the return on the federal investment in space exploration is the intellectual challenge, the opportunity for the U.S. to show leadership and to engage our young people in science, technology, and mathematics.
WashingtonExec: As a University of Michigan alum, what was your favorite part of Ann Arbor, Michigan?
Bob Brammer: Ann Arbor is a wonderful place. I have opportunities to get back there a few times a year, for business and family reasons. I like the college atmosphere there, as well as the high tech culture. There are a number of interesting companies in the Ann Arbor area, and they are there because they were spinoffs from the University of Michigan. It is always fun to go back there.
WashingtonExec: What have you enjoyed most about your career?
Bob Brammer: It has been difficult for me over the years to tell exactly where my job ends and my hobbies begin. I really enjoy what I do, having the opportunity to work in fields like weather and climate, cyber security and national intelligence systems, the Apollo program and so forth and to work with outstanding people. I expect to be running my business focusing on exciting new developments for years.
WashingtonExec. What is something that you wished you knew at the beginning of your career that you know now?
Bob Brammer: There are some stocks about which I wish that I had known then what I know now. ☺
I have spent most of my career in research, pushing the state of the art. I have always enjoyed working in areas in which initially I knew very little. What I do not know is more interesting than what I do know. I like the discovery process, and I will continue working on that for the rest of my career.
