Unclassified Panels

MILCOM 2004 will feature the following Panel Sessions in the Unclassified Program:

Monday, 1 November 2004

Unclassified – 9:00-12:00

  • Tactical Data Links Transformation
    Room: Steinbeck Forum
    • Mr. Frank X. Criste
      Director of Communications Programs
      Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Networks and Information Integration)

    Abstract: Data Links today provide critical warfighting capabilities. The Global Information Grid (GIG) offers a transformational vision that challenges Data Link users, designers and providers in ways that are yet to be fully explored and articulated. This panel of national military and industry representatives will provide insights into the transformation of Data Links to provide end-to-end and global exchange of critical information, improved common situational awareness, maximum synchronization of battle space efforts, and accelerated speed of command decisions. Ongoing and planned multi-national efforts that will enable far more effective future Joint, Coalition and Combined efforts will be explored. Tactical data links pose unique technical challenges to the GIG, since they typically operate in highly mobile, low bandwidth, and error prone environment and the need to support key low latency applications. General IP datagram networks, while highly scalable and very efficient for most data transfer applications, require adaptations and extensions to meet the extremely stringent latency requirement (a few msec) of some sensor-to-shooter applications. In addition, standards based IP networks require sizable protocol headers so that the connectionless routing, that provides global connectivity, will scale to very large networks. When used in very low bandwidth (e.g. tactical wireless access networks, UHF satellite networks, some strategic communication), the overhead associated with these headers will impact available user data rates. This panel will explore transformation strategies and protocol enhancements to overcome these challenges and enable datalink users to share in the benefits of global information exchange. These enhancements may include bandwidth reservation and load control;·compression of IP and higher layer protocol headers in selected networks; and encapsulating many data units into one IP packet to amortize the overhead over many packets.

Unclassified – 2:15-5:15

  • SATCOM Transformation to Meet the Warfighter Needs
    Room: Steinbeck Forum
    • Ms. Christine Anderson
      Program Director, Military Satellite Communications Joint Program Office Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command and Director, Transformational Communications MILSATCOM Program

    Abstract: Distinguished Speakers from industry and government will discuss the vision and status of the Global Information Grid including delivered increased capability to users, as well as challenges and opportunities in the areas of networks and information assurance.
     

  • The President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC)  - Past, Present and Future
    Room: San Carlos II
    • Dr. Linton Wells II, Chair, Assistant Secretary of Defense, Networks and Information Integration (acting)

    Abstract: Since 1982, the National Security Telecommunications Advisory
    Committee (NSTAC) has provided the President of the United States with industry expertise and advice regarding national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) issues associated with telecommunications and related information systems.  Members of the NSTAC are typically CEOs or very senior executives of some of our Nation's leading telecommunications, information technology and       services, and aerospace firms as well as a few industry associations and representative major end user firms, motivated by patriotism and a desire to meet common threats to our national security and safety.  Senior executives appointed by NSTAC members to represent them in the NSTAC's Industry Executive Subcommittee (IES) - the NSTAC's working body, perform the day-to-day work of the NSTAC.  The IES members are aided by the expertise each company can bring to the table and the expertise they tap from non-member companies, institutions and government organizations.  Early recommendations from the NSTAC to the President, created systems and processes that have proved invaluable in hundreds of national security and emergency events,    including 9/11.  The scope of threats, technologies, applications, users, environments and the related policy environment has only grown in size and complexity since 1982.  The reality of terrorism in addition to traditional national security concerns has made Government and industry collaborative partnership more critical than ever before.  Cross sector and international interdependencies further complicate the mix.  The NSTAC is systematically working with government NS/EP stakeholders and subject matter experts from industry, government and academia to formulate recommendations for the President for the emerging challenges of today for our ever-changing telecommunications and information systems environment. The NSTAC is also looking to anticipate the future challenges that changing requirements, technologies and threats will create and preparing to focus on the highest priority challenges for the President.  Attendees at this panel will learn more details about the NSTAC - past, present and future - and have the opportunity to impact NSTAC's current and future work and ultimate advice to the President, through Q&A with the panel or follow-up interaction after MILCOM.

Tuesday, 2 November 2004

Unclassified – 9:00-12:00

  • Terminal Transformation
    Room: Steinbeck Forum
    • Maj Gen Charles E. Croom Jr., USAF
      Director, C4ISR Infostructure, Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force

    Abstract: This panel will provide an overview of current and future Terminal Transformation and how it will integrated into the communication networks, Air Force C2 Constellation Net, Army LandWarNet and Navy FORCENet, which will provide increase capability to the warfighter.   The panel will discuss how terminal transformation will play a critical role to ensure joint interoperability and network centric operation are maintained in the out years.
     

  • NATO Perspective on Transformation
    Room: San Carlos IV
    • Mr. Frank X. Criste
      Director of Communications Programs
      Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Networks and Information Integration)

    Abstract: This panel will provide an overview of an ongoing study and explore the technical and policy related challenges that must be addressed in order to implement a "NATO NETWORK ENABLED CAPABILITY (NNEC)" The NATO Consultation Command & Control (NC3) Board has recognized the need to apply network centric capabilities to the NATO context. This need derives from various National commitments such as the Prague Capability Commitments that in turn depend heavily on information superiority. In order to achieve NNEC in the NATO Alliance, twelve NATO nations (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, UK, and the US) are currently developing a recommended strategy and roadmap. This panel will feature speakers from the NATO C3 Agency study team, the NATO C3 staff, and Allied Command Transformation (ACT). The National Representatives of the participating Nations will also be present and participate in the question and answer portion of the panel session.

Unclassified – 2:15-5:15

  • Global Net-Centric Solutions for the Warfighter
    Room: Steinbeck Forum
    • Lt Gen Harry D. Raduege, Jr., USAF
      Director
      Defense Information Systems Agency

    Abstract: This session features a discussion of DISA's support to the Department of Defense as it transforms to meet the requirements for a global net-centric warfare environment.  DISA's role is to develop the infrastructure through which information and resources are made available, consumed, and shared DoD-wide for total situational awareness and decision-making superiority. DISA's Component Acquisition Executive will discuss the Defense Department's transformational communications initiatives that have been developed to connect warfighters operating around the world.  The Program Director for NCES will then discuss how this core program will provide enterprise-level services and infrastructure components for the Global Information Grid. DISA's Director of the Center for Computing Services, will follow by presenting DISA's concept of hosting the core enterprise services and providing enterprise level data processing .  The panel will conclude with a presentation by the Principal Director for Operations, who is also the Deputy Commander of the Joint Task Force-Global NetOps, on the NetOps concept and how NetOps  ties the Global Information Grid together operationally and ensures the security and availability of data on the network.   

Wednesday, 3 November 2004

Unclassified – 9:00-12:00

  • Common Operating Picture
    Room: Steinbeck Forum
    • LTG Steven W. Boutelle
      U.S. Army Chief Information Officer/G-6

    Abstract: To support joint, combined and coalition command and control and enable a common operational picture of the battlespace, the Department of Defense needs not only enhanced end-to-end communications but also effective applications for secure collaborative planning and operations. New information and communications technologies hold promise for providing highly distributed joint, combined and coalition forces an effective command and control structure that is better able to integrate operations. United States command and control systems require the ability to share situational awareness with other government agencies as well as allies and friends. Such joint, combined and coalition interoperability requires forces that can immediately "plug" into the joint, combined and coalition battlefield systems (command and control, intelligence, fire support, logistics, etc.) and perform effectively. These forces need compatible systems with interoperable standards, doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures. These capabilities will enable forces to plan and execute operations faster than an adversary and to seize tactical opportunities in the Global War on Terrorism or traditional campaigns.

Unclassified – 2:15-5:15

  • J6 Perspective on Future Forces Transformation
    Room: Steinbeck Forum
    • LtGen Robert M. Shea, USMC
      Director for Command, Control, Communications and Computer
      Systems (J-6)

    Abstract: The Department of Defense is continuing to advance toward its goal of creating a Network Centric Operations Environment by expanding the capabilities of the Global Information Grid (GIG).  The GIG is the DoD's trusted network for information sharing and collaboration across multiple security levels.  Now, DoD must begin to "operationalize" the GIG into DoD's processes and warfighting doctrine.