Armys Integrated Air and Missile Defense

The chapter welcomed Col. Rob Jassey, USA (Ret.), as its guest speaker for the February luncheon. Col. Jassey spoke on the U.S. Army's Intergrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System. The colonel served as the deputy G-3 to stand up what is now called the 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort Bliss. He also fielded and tested the Army's first Patriot Advanced Capabilities III Battalion. He now serves as the deputy program director for the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System as an employee of Northrop Grumman. Col. Jassey spoke on the difficulties and subsequent successes of integrating seven different command and control (C2) systems to perform as one enterprise application. Engage on remote, a concept of both launching and engaging an interceptor from the information of a remote based sensor thousands of miles away, was a key capability that was implemented under the supervision of Col. Jassey. The colonel stated that C2 systems have to be able to adapt to different situations and that common command and control is the goal. A lack of continuity with how the warfighter operates made the need for a common system clear. Col. Jassey gave an example of a young person learning to drive as a metaphor to operating one of the formerly disparate C2 systems before the integration. At first, the task is all consuming and requires total focus. As we become trained the act of driving becomes second nature or part of our subconscious, said Col. Jassey. This is what we need to do with weapon systems. The soldier is learning to drive over again with each weapon system they learn. The common interface approach Col. Jassey worked toward allows for a training experience similar to learning how to drive a car once. The interface molds to the user in a similar fashion to desktop icons or apps on a smartphone.

Event Photographs: