News From USJFCOM: Warfighters test tools for new command and control program

Image of an operations center 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.