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Articles Submitted to Signal Magazine

On 17 Sep 07, Ms. Kerry E. Kelley, Associate Director, Capability and Resource Integration, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, NE., took an opportunity to apprise the Greater Omaha Chapter on her office’s efforts to increase command access to the many cylinders of excellence (data) that are available. Ms Kelley talked about the current vision her office is operating under – working towards a service oriented environment, continuing to populate the global information grid, providing greater access to existing information, and improving the Skyweb capability for the warfighter. She talked about how important it is the data is available, accessible, and more importantly understandable. She emphasized the significance of having services that work on a common framework. Ms. Kelley touched on several comprehensive Communities of Interest/Pilot Strategies all geared towards increasing exposure to the data. In conjunction with this, she presented a timeline featuring several projects and how they are progressing. Ms. Kelley covered key lessons they have learned – One of them being the necessity for confirming credentials – this has created a need to establish a pilot to work on confirming credentials across the network. Another lesson is the need to break down barriers to communication. Ms. Kelly discussed how bandwidth is an issue, but they are finding relief by taking advantage of the ‘Airborne Layer’ – this layer is the gateway prior to space and it will allow for higher bandwidths to be used for the propagation of signals. Ms Kelly concluded by pointing out the need for standards – by developing data verification and validation sheets to establish a standardized metric.

On 17 Jan 08, Col (USA) Mark D. VanUs, Director of C4 Systems, Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE, took some time from his busy schedule to apprise the chapter on the mission of the C4 Systems Directorate. Col VanUs initially talked about the organizational structure and how the J6 is not like a typical joint entity. On the organization chart, the J6 reports to the J3 – the primary advantage being they are tied closely to the operational element of the command. He talked about how the CIO is located in a different office – in this case it is actually the Deputy J8. Col VanUs said the current mission of J6 is to bring world class C4 in support off the USSTRATCOM/CC, General Chilton. Col VanUs related how the J6 mission requires looking at new ways to collaborate all of the time. Col VanUs touched on the function of each of his directorates: J63 Network Operations – Manages the contracted IT Operations covering the areas of maintenance, logistics, and engineering; J65 System Certification – Certifies modifications to the national warning and surveillance systems; J66 Strategic Communications Management – Provides strategic and executive C4 management; and J67 Information Assurance – Provides risk managed information assurance services and expertise for command missions. Col VanUs clarified there are some services missing from a traditional J6 like architecture development and program management. Col VanUs talked about the things J6 is doing to fulfill their mission. How they can not afford to build stovepipe systems – capabilities need to be efficient, interoperable, and integrated. They need to build network efficiencies vis-à-vis thin client configurations and reducing the space and energy required for systems. He discussed the need to become more cost effective, by creating partnerships between Government and Industry, eliminating stovepipes (with a goal of 75% reduction), and revalidating existing software applications in use within USSTRATCOM (currently over 2000 applications). Col VanUs also talked about ensuring reliability and better enabling collaboration within and across STRATCOM organizations. Col VanUs concluded by re-emphasizing the J6 role of supporting the war fighter.

On 9 May 08, Brig. Gen. (USAF) Gregory L. Brundidge, Director of Communications, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, VA., spent some time with the chapter talking about the responsibilities of his office. General Brundidge pointed out the A6 changes are very dynamic – he joked there are typically changes to the changes before the changes are published. General Brundidge commented his existing office of 270 personnel will be down to 120 over the next year – symbolic of these changes 1 person will be working all communication maintenance. General Brundidge talked about 'AFCYBER' being set up to handle multiple functions by any one office as they are finding many functions going away. He discussed how AFCYBER is being modified to handle current operations, policy/resources, and war fighter technology. They need to use their existing skill sets and core competencies to help others do their functions better without absorbing those functions. He wants his folks to look across their operations and apply this methodology. General Brundidge touched on transition management and how A6 is managing the seam – they need to continue talking to the right person and working to develop new relationships. In the future, it will be common place for 1 person to be providing multiple answers across the seam. To make this all happen, one of the essential next steps is total commitment to the AFCYBER mission. General Brundidge commented with this new role for A6 they need to focus more on support training of weapon systems – how to better integrate them into the Air Operations Center (AOC). He finds they are still doing things to support the wing, but in a more refined way focused in these areas: Unmanned Airborne Systems, AOC Sustainment, Weapon Systems Integration, and Airborne Networking Integration. A6 will ultimately have folks who are experts in these areas. General Brundidge wants to see his folks get into additional functional areas that fall within A6's core competencies. General Brundidge talked about how industry can help by ensuring what they are offering fits our core competencies, benefits at the enterprise level – industry has to be smarter, do better weapons integration, and network integration. The overall objective is to be a value add to the fighter – it's all about relevance. General Brundidge added industry needs to understand what we're after and how to get there. General Brundidge touched on service oriented architecture and how important it is to get the data piece right first. How we manage enterprise data is absolutely crucial – data needs to be managed in a strategic, cohesive way. General Brundidge concluded by pointing out he needs expertise to augment his team, referring to knowledge enabled airmen – folks who can support their phase II to AFCYBER and how they present all the data to the Combatant Commanders.

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