Collaboration is Key
The technical vision, "Naval IT, C4ISR, Space Systems, and Enterprise Support: Today and Tomorrow," is sponsored by Space and Naval Warfare Systems (SPAWAR) Commander Rear Adm. Michael Bachmann, in collaboration with resource sponsors in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and with contributions from the U.S. Marine Corps Staffs, Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM), and others.
The new technical vision highlights the information-centric contributions of naval C4ISR, business IT and Space Community professionals, and it articulates how C4I products and services employed in-theater are currently playing major roles in warfighter successes. The document is available on the SPAWAR public Web site at www.spawar.navy.mil.
Dynamic examples from the current fight in Iraq and Afghanistan demon- strate the successful integration of intelligence and operations with the power of using the network to get information to the right person, at the right time, to add value to situational awareness and achieve warfighter success.
Aligned with higher-level guidance and policy, the technical vision communicates complex concepts, technologies and visionary strategies that depict examples of programs planned within the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) cycle major investments for tomorrow that will enhance future capability, cyberwarfare, workforce requirements, and include investments in science and technology research.
Large Stakeholder Community
While the C4ISR, business IT and Space Community are diverse, naval forces have a long history of research and investment in IT to meet the communications challenges of dispersed operations. The publication illustrates how groups within SPAWAR; OPNAV; Headquarters Marine Corps; the newly forming Fleet Cyber Command (FLTCYBERCOM/10th Fleet); Marine Corps Systems Command; Team SPAWAR Program Executive Offices (C4I), Space Systems and SPAWAR Space Field Activity, and Enterprise Information Systems; and Joint Program Executive Office, Joint Tactical Radio System; NETWARCOM; and others are sustaining and creating capabilities while continuing to evolve and improve the naval C4ISR suite. These capabilities are an essential and vital element of the national security strategy in today's networked world.
Land, Sea and Air
Naval IT, C4ISR, Space Systems, and Enterprise Support: Today and Tomorrow illustrates the value of end-to-end systems engineering in delivering integrated solutions to meet naval operational needs. This work is vital in linking network architectures to mission threads and warfare analysis for enhanced informational awareness among the Navy, Marines, joint forces, federal agencies and allies.
The publication illustrates the power of platform-independent C4ISR professionals collaborating across agencies and services to deliver "change at network speed," integrated warfighter and business infrastructure capabilities where needed most.
To name just a couple of examples, the vision highlights how C4ISR professionals can leverage domain expertise with ISR/Information Operations systems engineering data and using Naval Networking Environment (NNE)~2016 top-level strategies to align programmatic efforts into the Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) and Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) to accelerate technology delivery — all key components necessary for information dominance on the battlefield.
New Cyber Opportunities
The timely release of the technical vision coincides with key new Defense Department and Navy cyber initiatives: staff reorganization and consolidation of the OPNAV Directorates of Naval Intelligence (N2) and Communication Networks (N6) into a single organization, DCNO for Information Dominance; and the dynamic realignment of operational cyber capabilities under a single command, FLTCYBERCOM/U.S. 10th Fleet, to revolutionize and dominate warfighting capabilities in cyberspace and networks.
The reorganization will bring intelligence networks, electronic warfare, encryption operations, cyberspace communications and information gathering, as well as meteorology and oceanography under FLTCYBERCOM, the Navy Component to U.S. Cyber Command.
These new commands will play a major part in directing and shaping the crucial roles the C4ISR/business IT/Space Community are playing and will continue to play in the new Information Dominance Corps. For example, resource realignment has consolidated four major Naval Air Systems Command programs: the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS); E-2C (early warning aircraft); the Next-Generation Jammer; and Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) into the DCNO for Information Dominance, with the concomitant need for the C4ISR/business IT/Space Community to collaborate with NAVAIR to create a unified position related to these unmanned systems and surveillance programs.
The Way Ahead
Naval IT, C4ISR, Space Systems, and Enterprise Support: Today and Tomorrow may be used as a communications tool within organizations to disseminate the criticality of naval IT, C4ISR, space systems, and enterprise support in advancing naval and joint warfighter objectives.
The publication aims for broad readership, including military personnel, Congress, the executive branch, the defense industry, mass media and the general public.
Look for Naval IT, C4ISR, Space Systems, and Enterprise Support: Today and Tomorrow on the SPAWAR public Web site: www.spawar.navy.mil.