Defense financial managers are under increasing pressure to deliver faster, more transparent, and more defensible decisions, but the path from raw data to actionable insight remains fragmented. This session will focus on the central question facing today’s organizations: How can defense institutions build a practical, repeatable, data-informed decision-making framework? We will examine the persistent challenges that hinder this shift, including siloed systems, inconsistent data standards, limited enterprise visibility, and the growing complexity of prioritizing resources in contested and constrained environments. The panel will demonstrate that a structured decision framework is the key to improving financial decision quality across the DoD. Participants will explore practical, scalable approaches for designing and operationalizing such a framework. Discussion will highlight methods for improving decision workflows, integrating authoritative data sources, and establishing repeatable evaluation criteria that strengthen transparency and defensibility. The panel will also examine collaboration practices that connect financial, programmatic, and operational communities, enabling organizations to align funding choices with mission outcomes while responding more effectively to emerging constraints. Attendees will leave with actionable steps they can immediately apply to improve decision rigor and organizational agility. The session will outline emerging trends in data governance, performance alignment, and continuous planning—core components of Strategic Planning & Organizational Performance. Whether supporting programming, budgeting, execution, audit readiness, or cost analysis, participants will gain practical techniques to elevate decision quality, reduce cycle time, and better align resources to mission priorities across all services.