US-M-C
UHF SATCOM Operations and MUOS
Nicholson, Jack Browne, Pat ORGANIZER: Nicholson, Jack
The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) is a narrowband Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) system that supports a worldwide, multi-Service population of mobile and fixed-site terminal users in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, providing increased communications capabilities to smaller terminals while still supporting interoperability to legacy terminals. MUOS adapts a commercial third generation (3G) Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) cellular phone network architecture and combines it with geosynchronous satellites (in place of cell towers) to provide a new and more capable UHF MILSATCOM system. The constellation of four operational satellites and ground network control will provide greater than 10 times the system capacity of the current UHF Follow-On (UFO) constellation. This goal of this session is to address future UHF SATCOM operations during the MUOS era. Of particular interest are discussions of current/future voice and data services (including voice nets, broadcast services, and tactical data nets), network management and communications planning, support to new/emerging platforms and users (including Joint Strike Fighter and Special Operations Forces), and how MUOS satisfies current DoD policies (including IPv6, Net-Centricity, and Open Architecture).
Commander Jack Nicholson reported to the Navy’s Communications Satellite Program Office (PMW-146) in November 2004 as the Director of Operations and the Contracting Officer’s Representative for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). CDR Nicholson was previously stationed at the National Reconnaissance Office, where served as the Chief Systems Engineer for the Communications Directorate’s Space line of business. While in this role he also supported the NRO’s portion of the Transformational Communications Architecture. Prior to this, he served his first tour in PMW 146 as the MUOS Chief Systems Engineer. During his fleet tours as a Naval Flight Officer, CDR Nicholson was stationed in California, Hawaii, and Spain, specializing in airborne reconnaissance missions and conducting sensitive multi-sensor surveillance operations in support of high priority naval and national intelligence requirements. He has deployed all over the world, supporting tasking in the Pacific, Central, and European Commands. He served with forces on the ground from Somalia to Saudi Arabia, and is happy to be now living in San Diego, California. Originally from Michigan, CDR Nicholson attended Purdue University, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He earned the degree of Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering and the post-masters degree of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineer while in the Space Systems Engineering curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Patrick J. (Pat) Browne has held the position of Systems Engineer Division Director for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) since April 2002 at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR)/ Program Executive Officer Space Systems (PEO-SS), Communications Satellite Program Office (PMW-146) in San Diego, California. He has been responsible for all updates to the MUOS requirements documents (MUOS Performance Specification) that have been the engineering key to two parallel Concept Advanced Development (CAD) phase contracts and the ongoing Risk Reduction/Design Development and Production & Deployment contract awarded to the Lockheed Martin (LM) Space Systems team in September 2004. Pat is responsible for all Government systems engineering activities for MUOS and is the lead engineering interface to the LM MUOS engineering team for execution of the MUOS contract. Prior to coming to PMW-146, Pat served in various P-3 aircraft avionics Test & Evaluation, Systems Engineering and Engineering/Program Management positions for 27 years at the Naval Air Warfare Center and Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Maryland. He received his Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering degree from Manhattan College in 1974 and Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering (Communication Systems) and Computer Science from Florida Institute of Technology in 1979 and 1984 respectively.