The generals who lead the U.S. Army’s cyber force are responding to a diminishing budget believe that changes to its architecture already under way will not only save money but also greatly increase military cybersecurity. Among the first advances are the introduction of servicewide enterprise email—a move that will save the service an estimated $500 million—and the introduction of secure computer tablets that accept CACs and allows individuals access to the data they need.

Lt. Gen. Susan S. Lawrence, USA, chief information officer/G-6, says the first step toward the Army network of 2020 is an infrastructure that accepts a single ID—the CAC—and brings soldiers directly to their desktops no matter where they are and allows access to the applications he or she needs. This year, the final two hubs are being completed, to accomplish this capability. The next piece of her vision for the service involves cloud computing, but she admits that to move in this direction the service must first clean up the number of applications and amount of data it currently has.

The general’s four imperatives for the near future are to establish a secure, standard-based network; increase the ability for warfighters to collaborate; access the network at the point of need; and ensure that this network is capable, reliable and most importantly trusted. She admits culture change remains one of the largest challenges to realizing this vision.

Also participating in the media briefing with Gen. Lawrence were Lt. Gen. Rhett A. Hernandez, USA, commanding general, U.S. Army Cyber Command. Gen. Hernandez’s primary focus will be on developing a cyber brigade in response to the growing number of cyberthreats. To this end, the Army is incorporating cyber operations into military exercises and conducting a cyber assessment as part of the Network 2020 Strategic Plan. In addition, the service is introducing the use of avatars and gaming to attract and train new recruits.

Maj. Gen. Jennifer L. Napper, USA, commanding general, Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command, explained that one of her command’s primary focuses today is transforming the way it delivers capabilities and services to camps, posts and stations globally. To accomplish this, the service is taking an enterprise approach and has developed Army Baseline IT Services to identify what capabilities are needed and the resources available to deliver those, and then it will whittle that down to one enterprise.

Gen. Napper pointed out that one of the biggest challenges to achieving this vision is the availability of qualified personnel. Approximately 34 percent of the people qualified to carry out this work will be eligible to retire in the near future. As in Gen. Hernandez’s units, the goal will be to find and train—or retrain—personnel to develop this enterprisewide network.

Maj. Gen. Alan R. Lynn, USA, Chief of Army Signal Corps, also briefed the press about his vision for the future of the force, which includes fundamental changes. He explained that current processes are based on the Army that fought in operation Desert Storm when the goal was to communicate down to the battalion level. Now, the goal is to be able to communicate down to company and below levels, a gain that must be accomplished without additional personnel. This will require smaller, more capable teams using smaller and more capable systems, he explained. The Army will look to off-the-shelf solutions to provide these, which is likely to include secure cell phones issued to more soldiers.

Gen. Lawrence concluded the briefing calling the future a “year of action. In the next 18 to 24 months, you will see a different [Army] network.”

Today, military communications deploy diverse technologies that comprise the tactical and strategic converged networks needed to support  warfighters’ missions. Challenges exist in deploying and operating these networks that include a broad range of technologies including: VoIP, TDM, SatCom, cellular, tactical radios, SCIP, WiFi and GSM. Additionally, military communications must support the wide range of diverse and not necessarily interconnected networks which are comprised of legacy and emerging technologies.

This SIGNAL Webinar Series event includes speakers who will provide an overview of communications platforms and solutions which support the interoperability of a wide range of interfaces and protocols, and which provide the seamless integration of legacy and emerging technologies. These will include the Department of Defense (DoD) required AS-SIP signaling, the functional requirements for Local Session Controllers (LSC) and the AS-SIP / TDM Gateway.

Speakers will also cover the efforts and results of the Joint Users Interoperability Communications Exercise (JUICE) 2011 to highlight tactical interoperability solutions and which address the challenges experienced by the Warfighter. REDCOM collaborated with industry partners who together designed and implemented a communications network comprised of Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) and Government off the Shelf (GOTS) equipment to bring cutting edge technology to the battlefield.

Register here.

On August 11, 2011 at 12 noon ET, join us for a webinar discussion on how the U.S. Defense Department and coalition partners can safely move mission-critical data without compromising security or compliance through assured air gap transfer. Today’s missions—whether they include sharing vital information in forward locations, moving data between coalition partners, or delivering command instructions and situation briefs—depend on the secure movement of data. However, in recent years, USB devices have been identified as potential attack vectors for viruses and malware that could impact critical systems and so have been banned or restricted in many environments.

For more information and to register, click here.

Join us on June 23 at 1 p.m. for a webinar sponsored by SafeNet on how Ethernet encryption over other technologies can help you improve your bottom line while simplifying your network.

The requirement for real-time information sharing is driving agencies to eliminate stovepipes and build converged network infrastructures to provide a common operating environment. Agencies are faced with a decision on which network architectures to deploy that will allow them to carry data over wide area networks (WANs) that connect regional commands, domestic and international facilities, data centers, and disaster recovery sites. Aligning encryption capabilities with the transport technology can provide substantial benefits to the organization.

During this webinar, you will learn:

• How you can unlink your encryption strategy from your network architecture and implement a totally secure, full performance, high speed Ethernet WAN.
• How different encryption methodologies compare from a cost and performance perspective when it comes to bandwidth needs and different connectivity models.

Click here to register.

How to determine which deployment model is best for your agencies network requirements.

Widespread access to sensitive or confidential documents poses serious risks of information disclosure, as was witnessed this year with confidential information ending up in the hands of WikiLeaks. Join us on May 26, 2011, at 1 pm ET for a discussion on how an effective data classification strategy can help government organizations comply with marking standards, reduce data loss and optimize information sharing whether internally or externally.

Everyone who registers before May 26 is eligible to win a free iPad. You do not need to attend the webinar to win.

Register here.

AFCEA staff frequently participate in community and troop support activities, and in one such event AFCEA provided cards, postage, small gift and prepaid postcards–and a pizza lunch, during which AFCEA staff members hand wrote more than 100 “Get Well Soon” and “Thank You” cards to wounded warriors and the medical personnel who care for them. The prepaid postcard was self addressed to AFCEA so that the warfighters, nurses or doctors could write back if they wanted to.

This activity was done through a group called “Homefront Hugs,” who decided which medical facility needed those cards the most and sent them along.

This week, we got a handful of responses we’d like to share with you:

Join us on April 21, 2011 at noon ET as SIGNAL Editor-in-Chief Robert K. Ackerman talks with Mercury Computer Systems’ Marc Couture and Tom Roberts in “Detect, Deceive and Defeat: Increasing the HPOI of your EW System”:

To detect and then locate ephemeral, shifting signals demands an advanced signal processing subsystem, combining a very High Probability of Intercept (HPOI) with a unique capability for multi-channel coherency. This webinar will present the design concepts of such a processing subsystem, with tightly integrated RF tuners and digital receivers. An open architecture helps facilitate the integration with application software. This presentation will also examine a successful case study and some newly available technologies which can enhance future subsystems.

This Webinar will provide insight on designing EW systems with:

* One to many coherent RF channels
* A High Probability of Intercept
* An open architecture addressing SWaP and cost constraints

Registration and archive information for this webinar are here.

The 2011 AFCEA Education Summit, cosponsored by ManTech International and ManTech University, will present educational issues and best practices to benefit AFCEA Chapters. The Summit is held in conjunction with AFCEA’s Joint Warfighting Conference on Monday, 9 May in Virginia Beach. It will be broadcast live via streaming video with live chat, enabling online users to listen and join in the discussions. Last year’s Summit featured presentations on Adopt-A-School programs, Ways to Engage with the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association), and IRS Rules & Regulations for 501(c)(3) status.

If there is an issue you would like discussed at this year’s Summit, please submit your Topic idea here. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Norma Corrales.

Join us March 10, 2011 at 12 noon as SIGNAL Editor-in-Chief Robert K. Ackerman talks with Alan Henderson, Vice President of Engineering, Globecomm Network Services Corp.:

U.S. Armed Forces stand at a crossroads when it comes to demands and resources. Fighting two wars and ensuring security on a global basis, they are entering a period when every dollar of military spending will be scrutinized as never before. For the IP-based, hybrid terrestrial-satellite network, the key to success can be summarized in a few words: deliver More Bits per Hertz per Dollar, and do it today, tomorrow and every day after that. But getting maximum performance requires the right design, the right match-up of technology, and constant attention to changing conditions on the net. The military network is composed of multiple technologies from hundreds of suppliers, all supposedly interoperable but seldom right-sized for the exploding number of applications they serve. Bandwidth is always at a premium, yet keeping mission priorities and bandwidth allocations in lockstep is a continuing challenge.

In this webinar, experienced systems designers, integrators and technologists:

* Describe network design and integration methods that maximize throughput
* Explain how continuous monitoring of throughput and active management of protocols maintains network performance
* Outline the principles and practices of WAN optimization

Registration and archive information for this webinar are here.

As you have likely heard, severe and unprecedented flooding in Nashville, Tennessee forced the cancellation of the 2010 DISA Customer Partnership Conference. For attendees, exhibitors, and AFCEA staffers, the experience was a difficult one—being evacuated from the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, where the event was to take place; spending the night in a local high school shelter; being separated from friends and colleagues; scrambling to arrange return travel; and a general feeling of panic at the rapidly-changing situation in which they found themselves. While everyone is disappointed that this highly-anticipated annual Conference had to be canceled, they are also grateful first and foremost that everyone is safe. The AFCEA staff in particular would like to thank the numerous Gaylord Opryland Hotel employees who truly went above and beyond to ensure that each attendee was secure and comfortable.

Although a major inconvenience, this experience has given AFCEA and all of its conference supporters an unparalleled opportunity to witness the tremendous spirit of “Music City” in action. From Tennesseans opening up their homes to strangers, to residents bringing stranded attendees food and water, to dramatic tales of heroism and rescue—there is no doubt that the remarkable community of Nashville will rebuild and rebound, and come back stronger than ever. In an effort to help the city in this Herculean effort, AFCEA International is proud to make a donation to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and we encourage others to do the same. Please go to The Community Foundation to see how you can help. As one AFCEA staff member put it, “I am glad to be home, but I left part of my heart in Nashville.”