The role of DASA was to compile staffing, financial and logistical statistics to provide professional analytical, economic and statistical services and advice to the MoD, Parliament, Ministers, Senior MoD Officials and other government departments, mainly through its publication of Defence related National Statistics Publications and responses to Parliamentary Questions and ad hoc queries.
DASA also provided planning and forecasting models to the British Armed Services to help to inform their decisions.
In addition to this, DASA was also responsible for providing members of the public with defence related statistics through the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
DASA also had personnel co-located with each of the three Armed Services at RAF High Wycombe with HQ Air Command for the RAF, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth with the Navy Command Headquarters for the Royal Navy and Andover with Army Headquarters for the British Army.
Its former Director (previous to that Chief Executive) whilst DASA was still an Agency was Dr Mike McDowall, BSc, PhD.