Mark S. Breckenridge

Director, DPAC

Mark Breckenridge serves two roles as the Director of the Defense Personnel Analytics Center (established October 2021), and as the Directorate Director of the Office of People Analytics directorate within DPAC. DPAC is DoD's premier center for advanced analysis, providing actionable decision support for the total force, families and veterans, through the collection and application of data and analytical research. DPAC provides effective, evidence-based solutions for total force management in support of the warfighter and leads the Department in providing innovative, cost-effective data solutions as well as actuarial expertise in on all matter relating to military compensation and benefits.

Mr. Breckenridge has more than 35 years of leadership experience in program and fiscal management, project execution, data analysis and management, research development, and building successful teams. He has served DoD in multiple capacities in the military, industry and civilian service.

As the deputy director for the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), he was responsible for operational systems and policy support for the Personnel and Readiness missions of DoD. This included maintaining the Common Access Card and identity management system, tracking DoD entitlements and benefits for uniformed service members and their families, and supporting the information, analysis, and research requirements of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the military departments, and Congress for developing and evaluating workforce and personnel policy. To support these missions he oversaw the largest personnel database in DoD covering 50 million individuals currently or previously associated with DoD.

Prior to his appointment to the Senior Executive Service in 2007, he served as the deputy director of the Identity Authentication Office (IAO) at DMDC. He was responsible for program management of secure enterprise identity management and access solutions, including the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS). DBIDS is the largest operational physical access and authentication system in DoD and is used to protect military bases around the world.

In industry, Mr. Breckenridge served as the West Coast operations director for SRA International providing technical and analytical support to the Military Services and OSD. Prior to his civilian service Mr. Breckenridge served in the United States Navy as a naval flight officer, deploying to the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. He is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, holds a master’s degree in software engineering, and is a 1980 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.