Anyone who spends time on the Internet is well aware of the benefits that Web 2.0 provides. U.S. Forces Korea recognizes these attributes and is transforming its decision-making capabilities by employing Web tools, according to authors Maj. Vincent W. Lau, USAF, and David P. Martin in Command Takes Leap To Web-Centric Knowledge Sharing, published in the current issue of SIGNAL Magazine.

Even though U.S. Forces Korea adopted a command-wide communications strategy to foster collaboration, the authors point out that it still had to deal with huge quantities of fragmented data stored throughout its systems.

Col. Russell Wilson, USAF, chief of the U.S. Forces Korea Knowledge Operations and Initiatives Division (KOIN), describes the command’s initial efforts at online knowledge sharing:

Early on, there was no single, overarching strategy for our knowledge management, so units just posted their data on the networks anywhere and everywhere they could.

Leaders recognize that the power of Web 2.0 on defense C² networks is in making warfighters more effective. It provides tighter decision-making loops and more relevant information through collaboration and networking.

Success in this arena, the authors point out, will be based on two principles: authoritative data enabling users to trust that their information source is the definitive source from which all collaboration and work are based; and data availability anywhere, under any condition, ranging from peacetime to war.

U.S. Forces Korea’s commander, Gen. Walter L. Sharp, USA, sought to fulfill this vision:

I would like to go to a place on [our C² networks] where data is authoritative and accessible to people who want to get it. [I asked my staff to] identify ubiquitous and authoritative information flow [to] flatten the organization.

From the Virtual Knowledge Wall’s (VkW’s) versions, U.S. Forces Korea has moved to the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) because it offers advanced Web 2.0 capabilities.

With KOIN leading the way on the knowledge management front, U.S. Forces Korea has positioned itself–using a platform such as MOSS–to tackle the paradigm shift swiftly and smartly, moving quickly from static to dynamic Web portals across all the networks.

The command will add to the capabilities of its C² networks as a force multiplier to give U.S. Forces Korea even more ability to “fight and win tonight.”

We welcome you to share your thoughts here in the comments below, or you can read the full article here.

The defense sector is all a-Twitter about this and other social media platforms, with many organizations restricting how and if their employees can access the tools during working hours.

Authors Maj. Daniel Ward, USAF; Maj. Gabe Mounce, USAF; and Carol Scheina discuss the impact of these restrictions in their article “Twitter Is Mission Critical.” The article generated a lot of conversation when it was presented in excerpted form last month, and you can read those comments here.

The complete version of Twitter is Mission Critical is in this month’s issue of SIGNAL Magazine. And it’s worth another look to see what else the authors had to say.

The Defense Department currently denies access to social networking sites from many unclassified department networks, isolating the defense work force from Twitter, one of the biggest engines of social, economic and technological change. This policy is outdated, the authors say.

They stress that blocking access to social media restricts warfighters’ ability to collaborate and innovate. Many defense employees are knowledge workers, which requires connections with people and exposure to emerging ideas. Social media enables all of these things.

Social media communities such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are self-selected and interest-driven. They are not limited to those who wear the same uniform, work on the same projects or have the same background. Social media extends beyond the military-industrial complex, encouraging collaboration and jointness.

Arguments against using Twitter include network security fears, bandwidth constraints and the perception that social media wastes time–none of which are strong enough reasons to preclude using these tools. The authors point out that blocked sites do not represent a unique threat; Twitter is not a bandwidth hog; and monitoring employee usage is a leadership issue.

It is time for the Defense Department to embrace the next evolution of technology–social media–and to acknowledge the change that is transforming the world, the authors argue. It cannot be ignored and should not be blocked.

You can read and comment on the full article here, or you can share your thoughts here at SIGNAL Scape.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) have teamed up to stop terrorist activities and to improve the quality of life for Philippine citizens.

News Editor Rita Boland’s article “Support of Philippine Forces Secures the United States,” found in this month’s issue of SIGNAL Magazine, discusses how the two agencies use a “whole-of-government approach” to accomplish their mission.

The JSOTF-P supports the Philippine Security Forces, which includes the AFP and Philippine National Police, in three ways: capacity building, civil military engagement and information sharing. In capacity building, the JSOTF-P and the AFP offer training programs aimed at increasing capacity and improving capabilities. For civil military engagement, the JSOTF-P partners with the AFP and other organizations to deliver humanitarian assistance. To provide information-sharing help, the United States shares intelligence data to assist the AFP in planning future operations.

Both nations benefit from the partnership: The Philippines receives help in fighting terror groups, and that reduction in terrorist activities decreases threats to U.S. interests.

JSOTF-P’s commander, Col. William Coultrup, USA, explains how humanitarian outreach and antiterrorism efforts complement each other:

Humanitarian operations show the people that the AFP and the Philippine government are making tangible efforts to improve their welfare, making them more likely to support the government’s efforts to eradicate terrorist groups.

The collaboration naturally has some challenges. Counterinsurgency takes time, for example, and much work lies ahead to develop local law enforcement and judicial and governing institutions. Cultural differences also play a factor.

Despite the challenges, the partnership has had much success reducing terrorism in the Phillipines. The terrorist groups presenting the biggest threats are Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group. The AFP has succeeded in splintering the Abu Sayyaf Group, making it unable to launch a serious attack since 2005. Its membership has been reduced to 500, compared with more than 1,200 several years ago. Jemaah Islamiyah has seen its numbers shrink as well.

The two agencies continue to focus on making the collaboration an effective one, with the JSOTF-P and the AFP completing more than 100 infrastructure projects between 2008 and 2009.

You can read and comment on the full article here, or you can share your thoughts here at SIGNAL Scape as well. Also check out the JSOTF-P blog to read about the latest news within the task force.

As if the past eight years weren’t enough, the U.S. Army is undergoing even greater changes as it retools to fight conventional and unconventional conflicts. Its Future Combat Systems program, which was to define the Army for the coming decades, is going back to the drawing board. The use of kinetic force is yielding some quarters to digital operations, and new specialties are changing the way soldiers prepare for new missions.

The August issue of SIGNAL Magazine examines some of these new technologies. Leading off is Information Technology Drives Army Acquisition Changes, an article that looks at the challenges the Army faces as it tries to procure the latest information technologies for its warfighters on the battlefield. This article taps the expertise of Maj. Gen. Nick Justice, USA, program executive officer–command, control, communications tactical (PEO–C3T).

Many changes already have taken place within Army programs, and perhaps none is greater than the dismantling of the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. Business Editor Henry S. Kenyon gives a good accounting of where the information technology elements of the FCS effort are headed in Army Modernization Takes Three Paths. He follows that piece with Army Readies for Electronic Warriors, an article about the Army’s new professional path for electronic warriors. And, News Editor Rita Boland steps up with Guidelines for Battle Preparation Become Virtual, an article on how the Army training community can find a Web 2.0 welcome wagon online.

All military operations depend on proper intelligence, and the Army is striving to improve its forces’ access to that vital asset. Sharing the Wealth Key to Army Intelligence describes two key Army programs that are designed to improve both access to intelligence data and processing by analysts.

Combating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) requires leaving no stone unturned in finding new solutions. In Scientists Search for Soldiers’ Sixth Sense, Boland writes how some researchers are looking at the human factor—why some people just seem to know where IEDs are hidden without benefit of any technology.

Information security is more than just a fact of life—it is a guarantor of life. Government, the military, the commercial sector and the public are so dependent on cyberspace that any interruption or degradation can be chaotic or even catastrophic. And, scarcely a day goes by without the public learning of either some new intrusion into key government systems or a discovered threat to personal information. SIGNAL Magazine’s July 2009 issue examines the challenges of achieving information security from the burgeoning menace to potential solutions—and their own ramifications.

Leading off is “Threats Imperil the Entire U.S. Infostructure,” an article on the information security challenges daunting the Free World. These run the gamut among profiteers, saboteurs and spies, and their activities have increased in both scope and sophistication over the past 18 months. Private-sector experts offer their views on what may be necessary for government, industry and the public to regain a degree of security for the increasingly important infosphere.

At the heart of the battle for cyberspace is the U.S. Defense Department, and “Defense to Turn Network Security Inside Out” describes the department’s roadmap for information assurance. Robert Lentz, deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber, identity and information assurance and chief information assurance officer for the department, gives a detailed description of the department’s new information assurance strategy.

Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, and Estonia is one nation that does not want a repetition of the cyber attacks that crippled it a couple of years ago. In Cyber Attacks Reveal Lessons, Business Editor Henry S. Kenyon describes what happened then through the eyes of an Estonian official who was part of the recovery effort—and who has helped draft response plans for the next cyberassault.

Closer to home, the U.S. Air Force has incorporated information operations into its everyday mission set. News Editor Rita Boland reports in “Flying Military Branch Maneuvers in Cyberspace” how the atmosphere is not the only realm in which the Air Force prepares for warfighting operations—both defensive and offensive.

These concerns raise the question of just who is responsible for cyberspace security. Contributing Editor Col. Alan D. Campen, USAF (Ret.), addresses that issue—with some interesting conclusions—in “Who’s Watching Your Six in Cyberspace?“

This is the first in what will be a series of video interviews featuring senior leaders of military, government and industry as they share their philosophy on leadership and the techniques that have worked for them.

This inaugural episode features Deborah H. Alderson, President, Defense Solutions Group, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

Every service has faced changes brought about by new technologies and new missions, but the Air Force is wrestling with nothing less than a total overhaul of its structure and activities. Its legacy mission was fairly clear-cut: maintain air superiority and provide support to ground forces where needed. But now, experts are building a new force of unmanned combat air vehicles that vie in importance with piloted craft. And, the Global War on Terrorism and the information technology revolution have struck at the very heart of the Air Force’s raison d’etre. SIGNAL takes a look at how the Air Force is changing to meet its new roles and which technologies might play a major role in them.

The Air Force leads the military in speed of force over great distances, and maintaining command and control of that force is a challenge that is becoming more complex with technology innovations. Leading off this focus report is Air Force Morphs Command and Control, an article on how the Air Force is doing more than modernizing its command and control—it is restructuring it to suit its new responsibilities while it incorporates some of the most modern information technologies.

A number of those information technologies come under the eye of Executive Editor Maryann Lawlor. She writes about a new beyond-line-of-sight capability that is being incorporated aboard E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft. This technology is changing the way the Air Force moves information across its networks, she reports in Information Sharing Flies High.

Moving information across Air Force networks is the topic of an article by News Editor Rita Boland. She reports on how the U.S. Air Forces Northern Distributed Mission Operations program is conducting individualized warfighter training from various locations simultaneously. Network Offers Top-Notch Training to More for Less describes how diverse components can practice homeland security missions through the distributed training network.

Still up in the air, but operating in a joint mode, is the topic of Multipurpose Missile Program Accelerates, by Business Editor Henry S. Kenyon. He writes about a new smart air-to-ground missile that can be carried on several different types of U.S. aircraft, both fixed- and rotary-wing. His page 33 article looks at how this joint missile would replace as many as three different missiles in the existing U.S. arsenal.

Research and development is the seed corn of our technology driven world. With the commercial sector providing many of the military’s new technologies, the old lines delineating military and commercial technologies are blurring into nonexistence. The defense community is working with academia and the private sector to an ever greater degree, and the rapid pace of commercial information technology innovation is increasing the importance of laboratory research. SIGNAL Magazine’s June issue looks at some of the new technologies about to emerge from the laboratory and the effect they might have in this technology-driven age.

Bleeding-edge research increasingly is looking at the effects of new and future technologies, and Rita Boland and Maryann Lawlor join forces to lead off this focus report with “Patterns Emerge From Chaos,” a writeup on how Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers are trying to model chaos from simple behavior patterns.

Shape shifting is the topic of Henry Kenyon’s article, “Programmable Matter Research Solidifies.” He reports on research into programmable matter that would assemble itself into complex three-dimensional objects on command. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program is striving for diverse objects that could assemble themselves into useful gear, but advances in this realm ultimately could lead to Terminator 2-type matter that can change its very nature.

Electronics also may become more flexible in the near term, as Kenyon describes in his next article, “Flexible Circuits Unfold.” His article looks at research into flexible circuitry that literally could be painted on warfighter uniforms to provide all sorts of functions currently limited to boxy devices.

Boland returns with an article on an ongoing effort to create a new qubit. No, that is not a modern form of a Biblical unit of measurement; it is a quantum bit that would operate as a processing element in a futuristic computer. The future may be nearer than most people realize, as she reports in “Science and Technology Challenge Strives to Create First-of-Its-Kind Qubit.”

The value of the virtual realm for training has been recognized for some time, but now artificial reality is being exploited for many other applications. Web 2.0 capabilities have opened new doors in cyberspace, and people and organizations are embracing the new world of virtual collaboration. The only limits to using this make-believe realm may be those of human imagination. SIGNAL’s May issue looks at ongoing efforts to explore collaboration in the virtual world.

One picture may tell a thousand words, but sometimes it takes more than that to generate a particular image. That was the case with the cover of this month’s SIGNAL Magazine. Anyone familiar with Second Life may recognize the venue, but very few could know the picture’s circumstances—until now.

The image well suited one of this month’s focus themes, virtual collaboration, and its lead article. SIGNAL Executive Editor Maryann Lawlor wrote that article, which is about a group of U.S. military veterans who generated a Second Life site dedicated to helping veterans. Veterans Collaborate in Virtual World explores how this small group has created the U.S. Military Veterans Center in Second Life, which is a virtual oasis that is providing myriad benefits—both figuratively and literally—to its visiting veterans.

And that type of effort is what virtual collaboration is all about. However, generating a cover about it was logistically more challenging than reporting on the site. Lawlor asked her contacts at the veterans’ organization to provide SIGNAL with a high-resolution image of avatars meeting in that Second Life site. Of course, no one can predict just what they’ll find at any given moment in that virtual realm.

Enter Asdzaa Oh, which is the name of an avatar representing a former U.S. Army wife. Oh sent out the call to other avatars from each of the services, asking them to meet at a specific moment in the site. Several volunteers answered the call, and the image of their meeting now is recorded permanently on the May 2009 cover of SIGNAL Magazine. So, this cover both describes and literally represents an example of virtual collaboration.

One sector that is seeing significant changes from virtual collaboration is the intelligence community. Sharing information in cyberspace is changing every aspect of intelligence collection, processing and dissemination. Intelligence Community Embraces Virtual Collaboration describes how the community is using virtual collaboration and the innovations it has in store for the future.

The future is now for the U.S. Navy as it brings its personnel fully into the cyberspace realm. News Editor Rita Boland describes in School Has the MOVES for Cyberspace Collaboration how the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, has the Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Institute, known as MOVES, that both teaches and researches the fine art of virtual collaboration.

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has had to juggle technologies to maintain effective service to its customers—the defense community. Both civilian and military Defense Department organizations depend on DISA for vital connectivity around the clock and around the globe. While the agency has been able to tap commercial capabilities to a greater degree, its customer demands—especially for bandwidth—have been growing faster than expected. SIGNAL Magazine’s April 2009 issue takes a look at how DISA is meeting the challenge of customer service while laying the groundwork for potential future requirements.

First, Information Services Inch Closer to the Edge, from Executive Editor Maryann Lawlor, examines just how the agency is adjusting to the tsunami of new information technologies and capabilities. Her expert source is none other than John J. Garing, DISA’s chief information officer and director for strategic planning. Lawlor also includes a sidebar on a cloud computing service, called the Rapid Access Computing Environment, called RACE. The RACE platform also powers Forge.mil, which News Editor Rita Boland wrote about previously in February’s Project Brings Open-Source Methods to Defense Realm.

Boland also contributes to April’s DISA focus report with Division Evolves to Keep Connections Safe for Everyone, which looks at how DISA’s Field Security Operations Division struggles with the ongoing conflict of ensuring security and accessibility. Both the security players and their strategies have changed considerably, and that change may be only beginning.