CHIPS Articles: C4I Officials Visit USS Higgins

CANES is the Navy's next generation tactical afloat network and represents a new business model for delivering capability to the fleet. CANES consolidates five legacy networks into one, which enhances operational effectiveness and provides better quality of life for deployed Sailors. USS Higgins (DDG 76) received the installation during a recent Selective Restricted Availability that concluded in June. Higgins is among the first group of ships to receive the upgrade and is currently the CANES operational test ship.

During Rear Adm. Becker and Dr. Zangardi’s visit, Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Nicole Shue, addressed lessons learned during the installation and offered feedback on how surface platforms and contractors can improve future installations. Higgins’ Communications Officer, Ensign Chris Rugile, led the visitors on a tour of the ship’s spaces that were affected by the installation. Rugile said, “It was an honor to display Higgins’ Information Dominance excellence to Dr. Zangardi and Rear Adm. Becker, and to show our Information Systems Technicians’ CANES expertise. During the tour, we highlighted data points on what we were seeing at the deck-plate level with the installation.”

Before departing the ship, Rear Adm. Becker presented Ensign Rugile with his coin and recognized the efforts of Combat Communications division during the successful upgrade. He said, “On behalf of Program Executive Office C4I, I want to thank you for all the hard work you have dedicated to this installation because Information Dominance is a critical warfare area.”

Higgins, home ported in San Diego, is currently in the Basic Phase of training in preparation for future deployments.