About David

David Ciani specializes in applying data science methods to solve challenges facing organizations and the people within them. He has a background supporting data driven research programs related to national security systems, social media usage, sexual assault prevention, and mental health.

• Strong data management skills, including database management (SQL) as well as database ingest and processing (ETL) from a variety of sources and formats.
• In depth knowledge of business and government personnel data, supporting a variety of customers and stakeholders, including data acquisition and privacy protection in a regulated environment.
• Quantitative and qualitative research experience, including statistical analyses, content coding, literature reviews.
• Preparing compelling data-driven reporting, including data visualizations, and briefing stakeholders, including senior leaders.
• Academic and industry experience with software development methodology in a variety of languages and environments, including R, Python, SPSS, SAS, C#, Git and other software deployment tools, Postgres, Oracle Database on Windows, Linux, and IBM mainframe systems. Experience with geographic information systems (GIS).

• Data Scientist @ Peraton

  2021 – 2025
  • Supported Department of Defense and federal operations research programs related to improving the effectiveness of suicide and sexual assault prevention and response, personnel security, insider threat, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Responsible for coordinating data acquisition for research projects including interfacing with external stakeholders, negotiating data use agreements, and implementing data privacy and security controls.
  • Applied statistical methods to social science research problems using R, Python and SPSS, including descriptive statistics, multi-variate regression analysis, and machine learning techniques, presenting results in academic-style technical reports.
  • Designed and deployed online surveys and supported development and delivery of online training courses. Completed web accessibility testing (Section 508) procedures and reports.
• Data Management Analyst @ Northrop Grumman

  2015 – 2021
  • Supported operations research and program analysis for a variety of Department of Defense and other federal personnel and security systems.
  • Cataloged and interfaced with legacy data systems on IBM mainframe systems using SAS, as part of modernization efforts including implementing Hadoop, Oracle SQL databases and Java applications.
  • Applied machine learning and statistical methods to social science research problems, including suicide risk assessment, and presented results in academic-style technical reports.
  • Contributed to data acquisition, extraction, transformation, quality control, and analysis, including application of advanced machine learning and natural language algorithms as well as designing and supporting qualitative data collection instruments.
  • Evaluated procedures and processes for social media/publicly available electronic information (PAEI) data as well as consumer financial credit reporting data.
• Grader/Reader @ UC Santa Cruz, Jack Baskin School of Engineering

  2011 – 2012
  • Evaluated coursework and laboratory assignments for an undergraduate computer science course, focusing on data structures, Java, C, and UNIX fundamentals. Applied assessment criteria to students’ work in a consistent, deterministic manner.
  • Project management: managed deliverable schedules and workload budgeting. Consistently delivered work products on time and under budget.
  • Maintained confidentiality about student grades, records, and other sensitive information regulated under federal regulations.
• Geospatial Analyst @ San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless

  2009
  • Worked with Project Manager to assess local implementation of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development homeless census project.
  • Used ArcGIS software to update and improve maps and data collection forms for future census taking.
• Software Development Consultant @ Alliant Insurance Services

  2008
  • Worked with software development team on components for a proprietary customer relationship management system. Expert in software development tools, including Visual Studio, C#, and ASP.Net.
  • Instructed peers in software development and computer programming techniques.

• Resources Exist, Asking Can Help (REACH) Field Test with Geographically Isolated Service Members (2024)
• An Examination of Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Disparities in DON’s Personnel Security Program (2023)
• Personnel Security Underreporting: Establishing Rates and Estimating the Problem (2019)
• Suicide-Related Incident Reporting in DoD’s Personnel Security Program (2018)
• An Evaluation of a Machine Learning Model for Suicide Detection and Prevention (2017)
• Improving Mental Health Reporting Practices in Between Personnel Security Investigations (2016)

• Bachlor of Art, Economics from University of California, Santa Cruz

  2009 – 06/2013
  • Economics coursework included Econometrics, Economic Analysis of the Law, Economic History, Environmental Economics, International Economics (Latin America, East & Southeast Asia), and Economic Development.
  • Additionaly completed computer science coursework including Data Stuctures, Computer Systems and Logic Design.
  • Supporting mathematics coursework included single and multi-variate calculus, statistics, and linear algebra.
• High School Diploma from High Tech High Media Arts

  2009 – 2013
  • Received a High School Diploma.
  • Awarded Regional Occupational Program certificates in Multimedia Production and Engineering Principles.
  • Top 10% of graduating class.