DON CIO Memo - January 30, 2013
This memorandum establishes a mandatory enterprise-wide Department of the Navy policy to improve management and use (including procurement and disposal) of all networked and stand-alone DON copiers, printers, fax machines, scanners (CPFSs), Multi-Functional Devices (MFDs), and related consumables and support services.
DON CIO Memo - October 17, 2012
The purpose of this memo is to establish performance measures and their associated reporting requirements in order to assess progress in achieving business information technology transformation. These measures may be updated in the future to reflect improved reporting/analysis, incorporate feedback, or to respond to changing mission and fiscal requirements.
Joint DON Memo - September 20, 2012
This memo provides details on how the Department of the Navy must engage in the immediate strategic transformation of information technology in business systems, applications, and processes within programs of record and functional area portfolios. It includes applications, networks, and systems classified as Mission Assurance Category II and III, and DON data centers, currently operating on any ashore network.
DON CIO Memo - November 7, 2012
The purpose of this memo is to announce the implementation within the Secretariat of a Department of the Navy Enterprise tool to track planned information technology expenditures. The Navy Information Dominance Approval System (NAV-IDAS), currently being deployed within the United States Navy, will now be deployed within the Secretariat starting in August 2012. NAV-IDAS will be implemented as a part of the approval ...
DON CIO Memo - June 12, 2012
This memo establishes the Department of the Navy Enterprise Mobility Integrated Product Team (EMIPT) as the Department's designated advisory and action group, reporting to the DON Information Enterprise Governance Board for all matters pertaining to the Department's enterprise mobility efforts. Further, it establishes the EMIPT charter, which states that the EMIPT will be a collaborative initiative to facilitate a ...
Joint DON Memo - May 11, 2012
This memo clarifies and refines the line number cost categorization definitions, and reiterates the requirement to report commercial hardware, software and services in program budget information systems-information technology by contract, vendor, make, model, and version. Adherence to these requirements will be considered during IT expenditure approval authority reviews.
Joint DON Memo - May 4, 2012
This memo establishes a standard format to report metrics that will measure and validate progress in attaining Department of the Navy information technology/cyberspace cost savings objectives, which were established through the FY 2013 Program/Budget Review and other ongoing Navy and Marines Corps IT cost saving efforts.
DON Performance Plan - October 4, 2012
This plan details the Department of the Navy's continued efforts to reduce the Navy's overall data center footprint, deliver cost and environmental efficiencies and increase the overall information technology security posture while ensuring Navy and Marine Corps warfighting capability remains strong. This effort aligns directly with the Office of Management and Budget Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative and the ...
DON Guidance - March 27, 2012
The purpose of the Business Transformation Plan is to communicate the strategy and approach of the Department of the Navy Business Mission Area (BMA) to both external and internal stakeholders. The chief management officer has identified the following BMA strategic goals:
Manage by a business strategy, supported by an information technology strategy;
Target business problems critical to the warfighter;
Improve ...
DON CIO Memo - January 4, 2012
Since its inception, the focus of the Department of the Navy Information Technology Policy Guidance has been on enabling knowledge dominance by directing that our information management/information technology spending support the creation of a joint, net-centric naval networking environment. The net-centric vision remains a goal, but cutting the Department's IT spending is the priority for 2012. In the face of sharply ...
DTG 031648Z Oct 11 - October 4, 2011
This message outlines acceptable use standards when using Department of the Navy information technology resources for official and authorized unofficial purposes.
UNSECNAV Memo - October 6, 2011
This memo designates the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer as the Information Technology Expenditure Approval Authority for the Secretariat.
UNSECNAV Memo - October 6, 2011
This memo tasks the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer as the Secretary of the Navy's senior advisor on information technology/national security systems (NSS) performance, and as the DON IT/Cyberspace Efficiency Lead, to analyze and assess the DON's IT/NSS investments for efficiency and effectiveness and make recommendations for actions that could be taken to reduce the Department's IT costs while ...
OMB Memo - September 21, 2011
This memo is designed to clarify the primary area of responsibility for agency chief information officers (CIOs) throughout the government, as identified in the 25 Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management. It discusses the changing role of agency CIOs away from just policymaking and infrastructure maintenance t
DON CIO Memo - July 22, 2011
This memo establishes a moratorium to halt all Department of the Navy investment (to include individual program of record resources) in increased data storage capacity without first determining that existing DON data center capacity is insufficient to meet the storage requirements, and determining it is not more cost effective to expand capacity in an existing DON owned Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Navy ...
DON CIO Memo - July 22, 2011
This memo requests that the Navy and Marine Corps each designate an Information Technology Expenditure Approval Authority (ITEAA). The ITEAA will be responsible to ensure that all information technology projects undertaken by the Navy and Marine Corps are integral parts of rationalized service portfolios, aligned with DON IT goals and conform to the DON and Department of Defense enterprise architectures. No resource ...
DON CIO Memo - July 22, 2011
This memo expands on the April 15, 2011, DON CIO memo: "DON Enterprise Information Technology Standard Business Case Analysis Template," which mandated the use of a standard business case analysis template for all Department of the Navy IT investments subject to Information Enterprise Governance Board consideration. This memo broadens that requirement to include all DON IT-related initiatives and projects requiring DON, ...
DON CIO Memo - December 27, 2010
This memo establishes Department of the Navy information technology/cyberspace policy and governance strategy to meet the long-term objectives of the Department's information management, IT/cyberspace and information resources management efficiency and effectiveness goals. The memo also outlines initial DON IT/cyberspace efficiency focus areas.
UNSECNAV Memo - December 9, 2010
This memo addresses information technology/cyberspace efficiency initiatives and realignment in the Department of the Navy. It underscores the challenge by the Secretary of Defense to think about the DON's approach to IT initiatives and to centralize and consolidate efforts where it makes sense. This memo directs the DON Chief Information Officer to take the lead for the Department for this endeavor, noting that it is a ...
February 11, 2013
In the "old days," most offices probably had a piece of equipment for each administrative function – printer, fax machine, copier, etc. Today, many still do, but these functions are increasingly done by one device – known as a "multifunction device," or MFD. Combining these functions into one device saves money, energy and resources. Additionally, MFDs take up less space in the office and can be a more secure platform, ...
January 31, 2013
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 DON IM/IT Excellence Awards and the John J. Lussier Electromagnetic Spectrum Leadership Award.
January 30, 2013
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer established another DON-wide IT efficiency policy in a memorandum signed Jan. 25.
by Enterprise IT Communications - December 7, 2012
The Department of the Navy has made significant progress in adjusting to its smaller budget, but much work remains. The $100 million in savings achieved so far is just a start to the $2 billion cut to the DON’s IT budget, said Terry Halvorsen, the DON Chief Information Officer.
November 26, 2012
To enable greater transparency into IT spending, the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer has recategorized several overly used categories, or "buckets," in the DON information technology budget database, Naval IT Exhibits/Standard Reporting (NITE/STAR). The positive effect of this action is already paying off.
November 6, 2012
As the Data Center Consolidation (DCC) and Application Rationalization efforts move forward, a significant milestone was recently reached. The Navy DCC Task Force, formed in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, has successfully completed 17 of 19 planned site consolidations. As part of the effort, the Navy moved more than 100 systems into Navy enterprise data centers.
October 24, 2012
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein said these words two generations ago, and yet they ring even more true today. But, we must not stop there. While it is vital that we use current solutions, best practices and technologies to enable our immediate success, we must also maintain a steadfast eye on the horizon for future requirements, industry trends ...
October 15, 2012
To maximize the overall power of the Department's mobile (cellular) purchasing habits, the Department of the Navy established the DON Enterprise Wireless Contracts in January 2011. The benefits of these contracts are paying off, and savings have steadily increased since the establishment of the Enterprise Wireless Contracts. ...
October 1, 2012
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer implemented mobility management tools and cell phone optimization training in March 2012. The overall goal is to gain business efficiencies and reduce cell phone and mobile device spend due to unused lines, total number of devices and overage minutes. To date, this effort has been very successful in setting the foundation for significant cost reductions. ...
September 21, 2012
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer and Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy/Deputy Chief Management Officer recently released the policy memo, "Achieving Measurable Efficiencies Through Data Center Consolidation, System, and Application Rationalization Guidance." This memo provides details on the steps the DON must take to achieve budget savings through application rationalization while ensuring mission ...
September 4, 2012
The Department of the Navy values energy as a strategic resource. One of the DON's major initiatives is to become more energy efficient. There is much to do from an information technology perspective to accomplish this. Office equipment such as computers, printers, fax machines and copiers consume energy even when not in use. By simply using efficient equipment and turning them off when not in use, the DON can ...
July 20, 2012
If you have good ideas on how to save money through improving management of the Department of the Navy's IT, improving existing processes through insertion of IT or changing existing processes to save money, the DON Chief Information Officer would like to know.
August 17, 2012
Although printer maintenance and ink are a significant cost to the Department of the Navy, we must not forget that the environmental and budgetary impact of those printed pages really adds up! It is estimated that the average employee uses approximately 10,000 sheets of paper per year. In addition to the environmental impact of producing this much paper, it is also costly to the Department. ...
August 6, 2012
As the Department of the Navy looks for greater efficiencies in how it conducts business, it is important to remember that each of us can help the DON save significant amounts of money and operate more efficiently. One area that can be improved is our printing habit. The DON spends more than $100 million on basic printing costs each year.
August 1, 2012
There are few milestones that better mark a time, an accomplishment and the hope for a bright future than a graduation. On July 12, 2012, Terry Halvorsen, Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer, had the honor of speaking at the graduation ceremony of the most recent graduating class of the Senior Enlisted Academy of the Naval War College in Newport, RI. He spoke of the challenges the graduates will face and how ...
by Sue Shuryn and Victor Ecarma - July 30, 2012
A critical component to achieving cost savings is transparency of business information technology data, which provides needed insight into, and thus enables more effective management of, the financial and programmatic status of the enterprise. The Department of the Navy Enterprise Architecture (EA) process is essential to providing visibility of such vital information. The DON EA assessment process is cyclical and ...
July 27, 2012
We all save an overabundance of mementos from the past — whether it is a favorite blanket from grandma, a box full of baseball cards (unfortunately, not a Tug McGraw or Ted Williams rookie
card in the mix), or 20-year-old report cards. While it may be comforting to know that we can always find a particular item; in reality, is that box of baseball cards valuable enough to keep around? We, as a department, have long ...
by Government Accountability Office - July 26, 2012
In 2010, as a focal point for information technology management across the government, the Office of Managment and Budget's (OMB) Federal Chief Information Officer launched the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative - an effort to consolidate the growing number of federal data centers. In July 2011, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluated 24 agencies' progress on this effort and reported that most ...
June 5, 2012
At the most recent Department of the Navy Information Technology Conference in Virginia Beach, Va., Terry Halvorsen, DON Chief Information Officer, held a town hall to discuss his strategy for business IT transformation and the future of DON IT. Download the full transcript, which includes questions from the audience, here.
May 30, 2012
During the next five to 10 years, the Department of the Navy is facing significant budget constraints. To support vital warfighting capabilities that protect the safety of the nation, it is necessary to find efficiencies in other areas. As part of this effort, the DON Chief Information Office and its information technology partners, such as internal stakeholders and industry, will thoroughly review all operations from an ...
by Floyd Groce, Brian Fischbeck and Behrad Mahdi - May 11, 2012
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer and the Information Technology/Cyberspace Efficiency Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) have undertaken a number of initiatives that have important implications for the future of the DON business IT environment. Specifically, the DON Enterprise Software Licensing (ESL) IPT developed business case analyses (BCAs) that provide enterprise-level visibility of how much money ...
April 24, 2012
Consolidation of data centers is a complex and long-term issue that both private and public sectors are facing. This issue was the focus of the panel discussion, Data Center Consolidation from the Department of the Navy Perspective, that Mr. Terry Halvorsen, Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer, moderated at this year's Sea Air Space Convention. Comprised of data center consolidation and data storage experts ...
by Terry Halvorsen - April 20, 2012
Two years ago, Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called the national debt the greatest threat to national security. He also emphasized the importance of good fiscal stewardship and the need for Department of Defense leaders to work together to cut spending, which had doubled from 2000 to 2010.
March 22, 2012
Data center consolidation is not a new concept to the Department of the Navy. The department has been actively consolidating IT resources and has already seen significant savings as a result. ...
March 12, 2012
Both the Navy and Marine Corps are assessing the data centers in existence today and consolidating appropriate centers to achieve efficiencies and realize savings. To ensure the data center consolidation streamlines operations, reduces overall costs, and maintains the high level of security, the Navy and Marine Corps are moving forward with a thoughtful plan that will achieve significant savings through fiscal year 2017. ...
March 6, 2012
Currently, the Department of the Navy has approximately 150 data centers that were established to meet the needs of individual organizations. This has resulted in a complex and duplicative network structure. Data center consolidation will reduce server requirements and merge the hardware residing in many data centers into fewer, more modern and efficient enterprise data centers. It will also virtualize DON applications ...
February 20, 2012
The Department of the Navy must reduce its business IT costs by 25 percent over the next five years. One way the DON is doing this is through data center consolidation. But, what is a data center? A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. ...
February 2, 2012
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer discussed the Department's IT business transformation efforts to prepare for a fiscally constrained future with enterprise and joint solutions that are effective, efficient and agile during the DON Information Technology Conference in San Diego.
February 14, 2012
Small businesses currently hire 43 percent of high-tech workers, including scientists, engineers and computer programmers. To help the Department of the Navy take advantage of that talent, Randy Cieslak, Command Information Officer, U.S. Pacific Command, hosted a panel to discuss how small businesses and the DON can better work together to find cost-effective, innovative solutions for tomorrow's military needs.
February 2, 2012
Five information technology leaders from the Department of the Navy were among this year's Federal 100 Award winners. Federal Computer Week magazine presents the award to 100 government and industry leaders who have played pivotal roles in affecting change, progress and efficiency in determining how the federal government acquires, develops and manages IT.
February 1, 2012
Four individuals and eight teams were honored for their outstanding contributions to excellence in information management/information technology during the Department of the Navy Information Technology Conference, Jan. 24, in San Diego.
by Michele Buisch - January 12, 2012
To continue supporting the operational forces stationed around the world, protecting the nation and providing humanitarian assistance during these fiscally constrained times, the Department of the Navy is seeking opportunities to increase IT efficiencies while cutting business spending. A primary focus of this effort is data center consolidation, which is essential to reducing the IT budget by 25 percent during the next ...
by Terry Halvorsen - January 12, 2012
Happy New Year! This year, the Department of the Navy will build on the efforts of 2011 as we continue on our difficult but necessary journey to transform the way the department manages its business information technology. Finding ways to become more effective in how we acquire and operate IT will lead to decreased costs and ensure we hit the target of reducing the IT budget by 25 percent by 2017.
by Mike Hernon - January 12, 2012
In today's efforts to identify and leverage all potential efficiency opportunities, one area often overlooked is a device that hundreds of thousands of Department of Defense personnel carry every day — their mobile phone. With voice and data plans sometimes costing more than $100 a month, the DoD spends tens of millions of dollars on cellular bills every month to ensure that personnel away from the office have access to ...
by Alison Dickson-Kozloski - December 22, 2011
As we approach the New Year, it is always good to take some time and focus on what we want to accomplish in the future. The Department of the Navy is facing an increasingly constrained fiscal situation. Budget cuts are forcing us to take a much closer look at how we conduct business and find innovations and efficiencies in our operations -– from energy consumption, to building construction, to IT infrastructure and ...
by Alison Dickson-Kozloski - December 22, 2011
The Department of the Navy has a long history of effective information technology solutions that provide the highest level of service and security while being conscious of limited resources. Facing an increasingly resource-constrained future, this commitment to maximizing DON IT support using the most innovative, efficient and effective means will continue.
by Jessica Pelenberg - November 21, 2011
As the quest for cost saving efficiencies rages on, three government officials spoke about the challenges their organizations are facing and their plans to tackle them at the Fifth Annual C5ISR Government and Industry Partnership Conference held Nov. 16, in Charleston, S.C.
by Jennifer M. Ellett - October 26, 2011
Certification and accreditation (C&A) transformation is an initiative to align processes, terminology and frameworks for assessing information security risk across all federal agencies, including the defense and intelligence communities. This effort will provide efficiencies, standardization and support to reciprocity.
by Victor Ecarma - October 26, 2011
In May 2011, the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer released the DON Information Management/Information Technology/Cyberspace Campaign Plan for Fiscal Years 2011-2013. As stated in the campaign plan, "Fiscal realities in the Defense community today and in the anticipated future will not support our continued development and delivery of Information Management (IM), Information Technology (IT) and Information ...
by Terry Halvorsen - October 26, 2011
It has been a busy year for the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer staff and the information technology efficiencies integrated product teams (IPT) as we analyze how the DON can improve the way business IT is purchased, managed and operated. This hard work will enhance the department's effectiveness, as well as result in real savings, as we grapple with shrinking budgets.
by Floyd Groce - October 26, 2011
The Department of Defense Enterprise Software Initiative, established in 1998 and sponsored by the DoD Chief Information Officer, was created to consolidate requirements for commercial software applications and negotiate with vendors to save time and money in the acquisition of software.
August 8, 2011
In another move to promote effectiveness and efficiencies in the Department of the Navy, the Navy, Marine Corps and DON Secretariat have each designated an Information Technology Expenditure Approval Authority (ITEAA). The ITEAAs are responsible for ensuring that all IT projects undertaken in the Department are integral parts of rationalized portfolios, aligned with DON and Department of Defense enterprise architectures.
by Lonnie Cowart, SPAWAR Public Affairs - October 12, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C. –- SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic unveiled a new data center that will play a key role in consolidating more than 100 Navy data centers to increase effectiveness and efficiency to reduce costs while still meeting the Navy's security and operational requirements.
by Floyd Groce and Karen M. Davis - July 24, 2011
As all personnel within the Department of Defense and across the federal government are well aware, this is an era of increased budget scrutiny. However, with this scrutiny comes a new opportunity to assess and advance how DoD operates and to improve efficiency across a wide variety of business units and operations. As a significant budget item, the massive information technology infrastructure is no exception and offers ...
by Terry Halvorsen - July 24, 2011
The Department of the Navy must change the way it manages its business information technology (IT) systems. It is the reality of these fiscally constrained times; and frankly, it is the right thing to do as good stewards of taxpayer money.
July 26, 2011
An update to the Department of the Navy Standard Business Case Analysis Template, as well as a new user guide, is now available on the DON Chief Information Officer website.
July 22, 2011
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer signed out formal data center consolidation guidance officially establishing a moratorium on the purchase of additional data center capacity.
by Lynda Pierce - April 29, 2011
In the January-March 2011 issue of CHIPS, the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer announced the DON CIO's role in addressing information technology/cyberspace efficiency initiatives and realignment in the Department of the Navy, in response to a memo released by the Under Secretary of the Navy Dec. 3, 2010. The Under Secretary directed the DON CIO to take the lead for this endeavor.
by Lynda Pierce - January 20, 2011
The Under Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Robert O. Work, signed a memo, dated Dec. 3, 2010, addressing information technology (IT)/cyberspace efficiency initiatives and realignment in the Department of the Navy. The memo underscores the challenge from Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Robert Gates to think about the DON's approach to IT initiatives and to centralize and consolidate efforts where it makes sense. Work ...