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UIT’s Tyler Ford selected to help develop CompTIA Data Science+ exam

Tyler Ford, senior data architect for Data Management & Analytics (DMA)

Tyler Ford, senior data architect for Data Management & Analytics (DMA)

A UIT employee is among 12 subject matter experts (SMEs) selected to help develop the first Data Science+ exam for CompTIA, a top IT trade association that has issued more than 2.5 million certifications globally in the past 30 years. About 3,000 people had applied for the opportunity.

Tyler Ford, senior data architect for Data Management & Analytics (DMA) in UIT University Support Services, said he applied to be a SME for the CompTIA certification exam because there isn’t an industry standard assessment for more advanced data science professionals. It’s been difficult to create a data science exam, he said, because the field encompasses so many different areas.

“It’s been challenging because of the level of complexity — in-depth testing on algorithms, machine learning, big data, etc. — and the number of experts needed to provide input,” said Ford, who has created data science curricula to train employees at various companies across the United States.

The SMEs met for the first time in November at CompTIA’s headquarters near Chicago to brainstorm potential topics and questions for the exam. The group included people from public and private sectors, including universities, government agencies, and IT vendors. Ford specializes in analytics, big data architecture, and distributed computing.

“At first, the workshop was incredibly difficult because there are so many synonyms for IT systems, resources, and processes that we had to come up with a recognized vocabulary that everyone could agree on. After we did that, it seemed to go quite a bit easier,” he said.

He said the test, which may take two to three years to develop, will likely include questions on algorithms, big data, distributed computing, machine learning, Python and R programming languages, statistics, and more. The SMEs will meet again in March to continue the development process.

“After the exam launches, we’ll go back every year to year and a half to review the criteria, determine whether it's still relevant, and refresh the questions,” said Ford, who also has been invited to assist with the renewal of CompTIA’s Data+ exam.

A CompTIA certification demonstrates that IT professionals have current knowledge and skills in their fields, enabling them to potentially earn more money, secure government clearances, and more.

“Staying current is good for employees and good for businesses,” he said. “And certifications show that you're a well-versed veteran in the field.”

DMA Director Brian Harris called Ford “an invaluable resource to his team and the University of Utah.” Harris noted that Ford helped build DMA's big data cluster, enabling the team to significantly expand its data processing and storage tools.

As a subject matter expert for CompTIA, Harris said Ford will guide the standards for exams and certification. 

“This is an exciting opportunity for Tyler to share his knowledge and ensure certifications reflect modern technology trends and needs. Everyone taking a future CompTIA certification exam will benefit from Tyler’s work,” Harris said. “We are very lucky to have him at the University of Utah and look forward to his many future contributions to the world of data science.”

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Last Updated: 8/7/23