John Sherman, the Defense Department’s chief information officer, recently explained to members of Congress that when it comes to the Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract, the department needs to “move with a sense of urgency” while also taking the time to “get this right.”
Defense Operations
The U.S. Marine Corps issued their eighth doctrine, MCDP 8, Information, on June 29. The policy lays out a clear alignment for Marines to harness and protect information on the modern-day battlefield.
President Joe Biden announced an expansion of U.S. forces and cyber capabilities to Europe in support of NATO.
"NATO is strong, united, and the steps we're taking during this summit are going to further augment our collective strength," Biden said during the NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday.
A new cyber cooperation action plan is also expected from this summit, covering political, military and technical levels.
With information operations (IO) in the world stage spotlight, the U.S. Air Force sees a growing need for experts in the field and is taking steps to expand training opportunities with the 39th Information Operations Squadron (IOS).
The 39th IOS, located at Hurlburt Field, Florida, trains Air Force personnel in information and cyber operations, including both offensive and defensive cyber skills. The unit conducts qualification and advanced training to provide mission-ready information and cyber warfare operators for all Air Force major commands.
The three-year-old Space Development Agency, which was charged with rapidly developing a successful National Defense Space Architecture, is on track for providing increased global tactical connectivity to the warfighter through the widespread, legacy Link-16 radio capability.
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U.S. warfighters at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. recently achieved operation of true on-the-move command and control, or C2, capabilities during the Black Flag 22-1 exercise at the base’s Nevada Test and Training Range, reported Senior Airman Zachary Rufus, USAF, from the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office. Airmen from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, or TES, leveraged existing commercial and governmental components and integrated the technology into a commercial sport utility vehicle, or SUV, essentially creating the first-ever mobile tactical C2 vehicle, Rufus noted.
A group of senior noncommissioned officers (NCOs) from the various military services argued against a one-size-fits-all approach to information warfare.
An audience member at the AFCEA Cyber Education Research and Training Symposium challenged the high-ranking NCOs on a perceived need for joint, standardized training. The questioner pointed out that the services do not even use the same terminology. For example, the Marines have a concept for information maneuver, the Army is developing an information advantage strategy, and the Air Force and Navy both prefer the term information warfare.
But the panel disagreed a unified program is needed or beneficial.
The U.S. Army is seeing a successful integration of cyber operations and electronic warfare operations but could more effectively add information operations to the mix, according to Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett, USA, commander, Army Cyber Command.
In her first public speaking engagement since taking charge at Army Cyber Command, Gen. Barrett offered the morning keynote speech at the AFCEA Cyber Education, Research and Training Symposium (CERTS) on May 11 in Augusta, Georgia.
A ransomware attack on a major maritime corporation could have affected its vessels in the Mid-Atlantic region, causing a U.S. Coast Guard officer to take extra precautions, according to Rear Adm. Michael Ryan, USCG, former commander, Coast Guard Cyber Command.
Adm. Ryan left his position at Coast Guard Cyber Command last week and is now the deputy for operational policy and capabilities at Coast Guard Headquarters.
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Delta 2 has been working over the last year or so to revamp itself in preparation for providing enhanced space domain awareness. The Delta, which is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, with space domain awareness functions at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico; Maui, Hawaii; Huntsville, Alabama; and the Naval Support Facility in Dahlgren, Virginia; is now comprised of four squadrons, up from two.
The resurgence of COVID-19 during the multinational military exercise known as Cope North offered an opportunity for innovation and proved U.S. allies and partner nations in the region continue to make strides on interoperability, according to Col. Jared Paslay, USAF, who leads the Pacific Air Force Agile Combat Employment Joint Integration Team.
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is delivering the first application under its fledgling cloud computing program known as Stratus.
Stratus is a hybrid, on-premise cloud computing program in the prototypical stages. It is intended to replace milCloud 2.0, which got the ax after DISA Director Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, USAF, initiated a strategic assessment of programs. Officials looked for best value capabilities and wanted to be introspective and “really honest about how we deliver the best value capabilities to the warfighter,” Sharon Woods, director of DISA’s Digital Hosting and Computing Center, told reporters during a media roundtable discussion at the AFCEA TechNet conference in Baltimore April 26-28.
As the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) embraces a more data-centric vision, the agency is developing policies for enhanced data management and identifying necessary technical capabilities to support agency operations, and improved decision making and operability for warfighters, said Caroline Kuharske, DISA acting chief data officer, on April 27 speaking with Michelle Lee, director, Threat Intelligence at Lumen Technologies, during AFCEA’s TechNet Cyber conference in Baltimore.
As with the U.S. industrial base, commercial market and defense sector, the cyber threats to U.S. Army networks are increasingly complex and persistent. The service’s chief information officer, Raj Iyer, along with its key communication and network leaders, are positioning the Army’s information technology infrastructure and strategically aligning its cyber posture to protect against future attacks.
Issued a year ago, the President’s Executive Order 14028, Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity, required federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to enhance their cybersecurity and software supply chain integrity. This order has helped propel digital security, Iyer noted.
Meeting technology priorities—at cost, at speed and using what’s already in inventory—coupled with better workforce development initiatives were some of the headline objectives of center directors from the Defense Information Systems Agency, or DISA.
Chief technology officers, especially those across the military or government, have a complicated task of pursuing technology modernization necessary to improve cybersecurity, user experiences and mission capabilities. To have digital modernization efforts that are repeatable and scalable, however, requires a holistic understanding of an organization’s information technology landscape as well as the business and people processes, advised Danielle Metz, chief information technology (IT) strategist, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Department of Defense, speaking at AFCEA’s TechNet Cyber conference on April 27.
The United States is developing new algorithms to protect against the adversary’s future—powerful quantum computing that will be able to break into currently encrypted systems and data. Led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, seven advanced algorithms are being considered for use as standardized methods. The Defense Information Systems Agency, or DISA, is working with NIST and Defense Department leaders to implement the quantum-resistant cryptography solutions, when ready, into military use, said Deepak Seth, DISA’s chief engineer, Emerging Technologies Directorate.
The chief engineer spoke on April 27 at AFCEA’s TechNet Cyber conference in Baltimore, being held April 26-28.
A panel of artificial intelligence (AI) experts from industry discussed some of the technology’s promise and perils and predicted its future during an AFCEA TechNet Cyber Conference panel April 26 in Baltimore.
The panelists were all members of AFCEA’s Emerging Leaders Committee who have achieved expertise in their given fields before the age of 40. The group discussed AI in the cyber realm.
The United States is building partnerships and alliances throughout the Indo-Pacific region, and trust issues are the thorniest hurdle to overcome. Officials in many countries work with the United States to iron out technological incompatibilities, and some countries actually purchase U.S. communications and information systems to ensure a degree of interoperability. But with information increasingly the currency of battlefield success, information sharing based on trust may hold the key to successful coalition operations.
The U.S. Air Force is seeking to overcome the networking issues all the services face though the development of a new architecture that would create an all-encompassing information environment, a program expert said. This network would provide for all the warfighter’s data needs while ensuring security through redundancy and complexity.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) is approaching the future with a wish list connected by the common thread of data. This list includes expected needs in the vast region, but it also features new approaches to maintaining peace and security throughout the region.
This list was offered to luncheon attendees by Maj. Gen. James B. Jarrard, USA, chief of staff of INDOPACOM, on the third and final day of TechNet Indo-Pacific, held in Honolulu April 11-13. Its theme of “From Data to Dominance” fit perfectly with Gen. Jarrard’s presentation.
The world’s largest ocean, surrounded by dozens of countries, faces threats that ultimately will be resolved by land forces. And these land forces face considerable challenges in which solutions may be defined by technology.
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is viewing the Indo-Pacific region with a high level of priority as it modernizes information systems across the defense realm. Two significant adversaries pose serious threats that are technology-oriented, both in terms of advantages and disadvantages, and the agency must address those while replacing outmoded systems.
With a more diverse set of missions looming in its ongoing transformation, the U.S. Marine Corps is looking at a broad range of technologies to empower individual Marines in a host of capabilities. These can range from kinetic warfighting to sensor data management, including security operations.
Most of these new technologies will come from the commercial sector, as it is advancing the state of the art in information systems faster than government. However, military concerns will be taken into account to ensure fidelity for Corps systems.
Decision superiority is the key to defeating two serious attempts to overturn the international rules-based order, said a U.S. fleet commander. Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, USN, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, described how the threat is coming from two directions in two different timelines, but both are serious and must be answered with a large-scale approach.
Adm. Paparo’s remarks came in the opening keynote address at TechNet Indo-Pacific, being held in Honolulu April 11-13. With its theme of “From Data to Dominance,” the event emphasized the importance of digital operations in the highly dynamic and challenging Indo-Pacific region.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has interrupted the meeting of the governing bodies that oversee coordination in the Arctic region, leaving discourse at a standstill, leaders from Arctic nations report. The unfortunate effect of global warming that has increased the polar ice melt is also making the Arctic region more navigable, and as such, the region is growing in geopolitical importance. To ensure open access and safe operations, several entities help govern the region but are not able to do so during the war.
The Defense Information Systems Agency is trying to accelerate the pace of change by incorporating transformational technology into its operations. Emerging capabilities such as 5G will find their way into DISA services, but the agency also is partnering with industry to develop and leverage new capabilities to meet burgeoning operational needs.
The Commonwealth of Australia, the sixth largest country in the world, is seeing the geopolitical environment shift in its Indo-Pacific region. As a result, it is bolstering its military and technological capabilities. It is building sovereign capabilities as well as leveraging emerging solutions through its important partnerships, explains Arthur Sinodinos AO, Australia’s ambassador to the United States.
The word “trust” is used so often within the national security and defense community that some might consider it cliched or devoid of meaning. Trusted allies. Trusted partners. Trusted data. Community of trust. Culture of trust. Zero trust.
But let me tell you firsthand what trust means to me.
As U.S. and global telecommunication carriers deploy more and more fifth-generation wireless network infrastructure, or 5G, in America and around the world, U.S. defense officials are examining the use cases for military applications of 5G such as autonomous vehicles; support of deployed warfighters; smart bases, warehouses and logistics; and cloud-related applications.
One feature that may be ideal for Defense Department use is network slicing, experts say. The ability to separate or “slice” a 5G network into subnetworks for designated users at specific security levels could prove to be versatile, explained Neal Ziring, technical director, National Security Agency (NSA), speaking at AFCEA DC’s recent 5G Luncheon.
The U.S. Defense Department announced yesterday that it would be sending more troops in support of NATO’s eastern flank amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The warfighters will provide key air refueling mission support as well as command and control capabilities.
“These additional personnel are being positioned to respond obviously to the current security environment caused by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” said Rear Adm. John Kirby, USN (Ret.), the Pentagon’s press secretary. “And certainly to help reinforce and bolster deterrence and defense capabilities of the NATO alliance.”
Top leaders responsible for defending the United States told Congress yesterday that the current and expected future global threat environment demands an all-encompassing strategy, one that involves strategic nuclear deterrence capabilities through a modernized nuclear triad, but also through an integrated cyber, information warfare and kinetic defense.
This year, the number one priority of the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory’s leadership is to prepare a comprehensive recommendation to the service’s commandant, Gen. David Berger, USMC, on the future infantry battalion construct. This encompassing task is needed to properly align aspects of the Marine Corps to succeed in a near-peer environment as a more integrated part of the U.S. Navy, and one that is more operational with joint partners and allies. The lab’s other priorities center around solutions needed to execute peer adversary warfare.
Information operations is one of the critical elements to the U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, Adm. Samuel Paparo, USN, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, told the audience at the WEST 2022 conference and exposition hosted by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute in San Diego February 16-18.
The U.S. military services are embarking on a widespread effort to connect all sensors to all shooters in every domain. This concept of Joint All-Domain Command and Control is challenging but remains vital given our adversarial threats, leaders said today speaking at AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute’s WEST 2022 conference and exposition held in San Diego February 16-18.
A WEST conference and exhibition panel discussion designed deliberately to be provocative questioned whether the U.S. Navy’s strategy permits the kind of innovation necessary to vie with peer competitors such as China.
Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, USN (Ret.), president, Naval Postgraduate School, moderated the discussion. The panel also included Adm. James Winnefeld Jr., USN (Ret.), former vice chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Bran Ferren, co-founder and chief creative officer, Applied Minds LLC; and Steve Blank, adjunct professor, Stanford University and senior fellow for innovation, Columbia University.
Those in charge of command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) for the U.S. Navy are tapping their own assets to solve issues brought about by the implementation of new systems. More data means more work for warfighters without some kind of technological assistance, and greater capabilities on the edge could be vexing if sailors and Marines are hindered by operational burdens.
The sea services face tight funding, limited assets and broader missions as they re-tool for growing and more diverse challenges around the world. Not only must they allocate their resources carefully, they also must establish new procedures with greater efficiencies so they can fulfill a larger mission set.
Project Overmatch, the U.S. Navy’s major networking project that will be its piece of the Defense Department’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) system, will draw heavily from commercial technologies and capabilities, according to a leading Navy officer. Rear Adm. Douglas Small, USN, commander, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, allowed that unclassified aspects of Overmatch will have a decidedly commercial flavor.
Having embraced information warfare, the U.S. Navy is incorporating it into more platforms and operations as the sea service expects it to play a major role in future combat. Both technology and expertise are increasing their presence, and training is adjusting accordingly.
The United States must abandon ambiguity and declare its intentions to stand up to aggression or face its consequences sooner than many think possible, leading experts say. Their warnings largely concerned the Indo-Pacific region, but the principle can apply worldwide as threats are growing and challenges to peace and security are becoming more overt.
The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are looking at different but sometimes complementary needs as they gird to meet new challenges. Success may rely on abandoning old ways of operation along with incorporating new technologies, said leaders from the three services.
U.S. military officials in the Indo-Pacific region agree that to compete with China, U.S. naval forces should adapt more quickly.
Asked specifically by an audience member at WEST 2022, the conference and exposition hosted by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute in San Diego February 16-18, whether the military is adapting quickly enough for China, multiple members of a panel agreed that the answer is “no.”
The Navy is using and oozing information in nearly every aspect of its operations as it strives to maintain dominance in an ever-challenging environment, according to its information warfare and intelligence leader. Vice Adm. Jeffrey E. Trussler, USN, deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare and director of naval intelligence N2/N6, described an info-centric world in which the Navy dominates and is dominated by data used to prevail over increasingly capable adversaries.
Alliances are the greatest strength the United States possesses as it confronts increased tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, said a former combatant commander for that area. And they must be buttressed by unambiguous words and actions by the United States before critical actions erupt.
The young U.S. Space Force is determined to be a military service that is based on a digital culture. Leaders are requiring all guardians—including the officers themselves—to have digital aptitude. The service put itself on a path to have a digital headquarters, with a vision of cutting-edge tools, analytics and low bureaucratic burdens. The lofty goal of digital operations centers driving joint all-domain solutions that support the military in, from and to space, is to gain advantage through an interconnected infrastructure, explained Gen. David Thompson, USSF, vice chief, Space Operations, Space Force.
Open-source software components now often comprise at least 80 percent of modern software applications, according to the best available estimate. They run the web servers that allow you to read this article, form the core of the mobile apps you use, and even help stealthier corners of government accomplish their missions—supporting U2 Dragon Lady missions, for example.
The U.S. Marine Corps is focusing its activities to support more expeditionary warfare to guard against near-peer adversaries, such as China and Russia. The service’s work is all part of a greater force construction effort, which includes a new infantry battalion construct that leaders are developing to be capable of operating in a more globally distributed fashion in a contested maritime environment. One particular warfighting group that the service is creating is the so-called Marine Littoral Regiment.
The sea services of a maritime nation are vital to its national security, and no nation’s sea services are responsible for a greater area of operations than those of the United States. Flanked by the world’s two largest oceans that it can no longer hide behind, the United States faces peer rivals that pose challenges to the United States and threats to the international norms from all directions. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are modernizing their operations and equipment to confront this new threat, but they face a diverse set of challenges that continue to change as technologies and capabilities evolve.