November Speaker Discusses Strategic Communications Programs

LTC Jeff Etienne, product director for Defense-Wide Transmission Systems (PD DWTS) was the guest speaker at the chapter's November luncheon. He discussed the eight major strategic, long haul and base support communications programs, how the PD DWTS team works to manage these diverse programs and the multiplicity of requirements from major stakeholders ranging from the Army G-4 to the CIO/G-6. “I like to compare DWTS to being like a Sprint, AT&T or Verizon carrier. We provide long haul communications worldwide, a SATCOM network which enables logisticians to remotely connect to their critical networks stateside,” said Etienne. LTC Etienne highlighted the real-life applications of DWTS programs. Recently DWTS deployed more than twenty Combat Services Support Very Small Aperture Terminals (CSS VSATs) as part of the Operation United Assistance response to the Ebola outbreak in North Africa. “We played a huge part in connecting the logisticians and were able to leverage years of preparation to ensure we have coverage at any time, anywhere around the world,” said Etienne. LTC Etienne expressed a desire to move away from sole-source contracting in the interest of encouraging competition, engaging small business interests and to order work against the Communications and Transmission Systems (CTS) contract vehicle. During his remarks, LTC Etienne stressed the necessity of partnership and dialogue with industry to aid DWTS in identifying the most expedient, cost-effective contract vehicles to execute the mission. “I need your expertise. I need the best solutions out there, especially off the shelf products. We need information exchange. Remember one thing, the very last thing, at the end of the day, it's all about the soldier.”

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