 Warfighters
test tools for new command and control program
U.S.
Joint Forces Command's Standing Joint Force Headquarters
Directorate is providing warfighters to help the Defense
Information Systems Agency create Net-Enabled Command
Capability, the Department of Defense's
next-generation command and control program.
By Nicole Robinson
SJFHQ Communications
(NORFOLK, Va. - Aug. 3, 2006) -- U.S. Joint Forces Command's
(USJFCOM) team of operational requirements experts and
information command and control specialists continues to
work closely with the Defense Information Systems Agency
(DISA) to deliver new command and control capabilities
more rapidly, which promotes greater flexibility.
USJFCOM's Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ) Directorate
has worked with DISA on helping to deliver DoD's new principal
command and control program called the Net-Enabled Command
Capability (NECC).
NECC will be based on a Web-enabled, service oriented
architecture providing capabilities that support joint
force and unit level commanders in the accomplishment of
their warfighting mission. The program will further incorporate
emerging technical capabilities based on validated operational
requirements to provide the warfighter with the best command
and control tools required for successful accomplishment
of the mission.
SJFHQ recently hosted a two-day exercise in support of
NECC by providing a group of 16 military and civilian personnel
to test current software and capabilities. Additional participants
included representatives from the Joint
Deployment Training Center, Joint
Systems Integration Command,
DISA engineers and operators from one of the U.S. Army
Component Program Management Offices.
SJFHQ participation in this testing event was a continuation
of work accomplished under the direction of the command's
Joint Requirements and Integration
Directorate (J8) which
has the mission of identifying and validating warfighter
requirements/capabilities for incorporation into NECC as
part of its larger mission of managing DoD's joint command
and control portfolio.
As the operational sponsor of NECC,
USJFCOM has established a dedicated team within J8 - Joint
Combat Capability Developer (JCCD) - as the focal
point to execute these responsibilities on behalf of the
warfighters according to command officials.
As a joint team of experts that accelerate the stand-up
of joint task force headquarters and the future users
of NECC, SJFHQ provides an obvious place
to test the utility of emerging command and control software according to
command officials working with the project.
"We were asked to be the voice of the warfighter
in the early NECC development efforts. We're taking it
on with full passion," stated Chris Shepherd, SJFHQ
deputy director.
"The warfighters' role in this event is critical.
They will be engaged continually to provide feedback into
the NECC activities to ensure the best capabilities are
provided faster," pointed out USJFCOM
J8 JCCD Transition Branch Lead Mike Rendon.
According to
Rendon, JCCD works directly with the warfighter to determine
operational requirements that NECC will provide to a
JTF headquarters. Ultimately, the JCCD insures that what
DISA
develops for NECC is in response to a validated operational
requirement.
During the event, participants were trained to use the
software, presented with an event scenario and then asked
to test the tool's utility against the parameters of the
scenario. After completing the test, participants were
asked to provide feedback to determine if the tool met
their operational needs, and if so, how well.
"The feedback we receive from the piloting activities
will have a direct impact on the software that is fielded," said
Rendon.
As these events continue, the results will be compiled
and analyzed for DISA.
During an evaluation process at the conclusion of the
event, the participants were provided with individual questionnaires
that were then discussed in a group setting. One of the
benefits discussed was the immediate availability of net-enabled
programs versus various pieces of hardware.
"We will do this exercise distributively (on a virtual
network) in the future as we continue to improve our processes," affirmed
Rendon. SJFHQ will continue to participate in future piloting
activities to help create a capability that delivers more
rapid and flexible command and control and the J8-led JCCD
will be the conduit for articulating the needs of the operational
warfighter to the development community according to Rendon.
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