Heather M. Wojton, Ph.D.
Division Director
Heather Wojton is the Director of the Operational Evaluation Division (OED) of the Systems and Analyses Center. In this position, she provides strategic leadership, project oversight, and direction for the division’s research program, which primarily supports the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
In her previous role as IDA’s Director, Research Quality and Chief Data Officer, Heather provided strategic leadership, project management and direction for the corporation’s data strategy. She enhanced IDA’s ability to efficiently and effectively accomplish research and business operations by assessing and evolving data systems, data management infrastructure and data-related practices. She also oversaw the quality management processes for research projects, including the research product publication process and the technical review process.
Heather joined IDA in 2015 as a member of the research staff in OED. She is an expert in quantitative research methods, including test design and program evaluation. As a researcher at IDA, Heather led IDA’s test science research program that facilitates data-driven decision making within the Department of Defense by advancing statistical, behavioral, and data science methodologies and applying them to the evaluation of defense acquisition programs. Heather’s other accomplishments include advancing methods for test design, modeling and simulation validation, data management and curation, and artificial intelligence testing.
Heather has a doctorate in experimental psychology from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in research psychology from Marietta College, where she was a member of the McDonough International Leadership Program. She is a graduate of the George Washington University National Security Studies Senior Management Program and the Maxwell School National Security Management Course at Syracuse University.
Jonathan L. “Jon” Bell, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Jon Bell previously served as the Deputy Portfolio Leader for the Land Warfare Group in OED, where he assisted in managing a large portfolio of Army and Marine Corps programs in support of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E). Additionally, since joining IDA in 2008, Jon has managed projects covering operational test and evaluation of Army tactical vehicles, Marine Corps amphibious systems, Army rotary-wing aircraft, and counter unmanned aircraft systems. Jon has maintained strong ties with DOT&E, serving as a technical advisor in both the DOT&E front office in 2015 and in the Office of the Deputy Director, Land and Expeditionary Warfare in 2023. Prior to working at IDA, Jon earned his doctorate in materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and his bachelor’s degree in materials science at Carnegie Mellon University.
Breeana G. Anderson, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Breeana Anderson leads the Strategic Initiatives, Policy, and Emerging Technologies (SIPET) Group. Since joining IDA in 2015, she has provided analytical support for a variety of Army and joint military systems, including serving as the project lead for chemical and biological weapon defense systems and soldier systems. Breeana has worked on the SIPET portfolio since 2021 with a focus on developing and improving test and evaluation policy and guidance across multiple areas. As assistant director, she is focused on research strategy, planning and execution. Breeana has a doctorate in chemical biology from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Georgetown University.
Andrew R. "Andy" Atwell, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Andy Atwell is the project lead for fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. He works with and mentors more than 50 researchers in providing analytical support for operational tests and assessments of aircraft systems for the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E). Since joining IDA in 2002, Andy has provided analytical support to DOT&E for design, observation, analysis and reporting of fighter aircraft, bomber aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters along with their associated countermeasure systems. Andy earned both a doctorate and a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Cornell University. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics and German from Southwest Missouri State University.
Walter R. Dodson, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Walter Dodson leads a task focused on cyber assessments of Combatant Commands and other DOD enterprises and is the deputy portfolio lead for Net-Centric and Space Systems. His primary research areas of focus are cyberspace operations; cyber command, control and intelligence fusion; and countering emerging cyberattack technologies. He is particularly interested in the intersection between cyberspace operations, electromagnetic spectrum operations and artificial intelligence. Previously at IDA, he supported test and evaluation of satellite systems and systems for space domain awareness. As an assistant director, his focus is on workforce development, mentorship, training, and expertise growth, ensuring that the OED workforce is well-positioned to address areas of emerging technology and new warfighting concepts. Walter holds a doctorate in bioengineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering and chemical engineering, both from Washington University in St. Louis.
