Page 18 - FCW, May 30, 2016
P. 18

Q&A: INTEGRATED C4ISR THROUGH ENTERPRISE INTEGRATION
UNDERWRITTEN BY BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON
AN INTERVIEW WITH
Steve Soules
Executive Vice President
Lead, Navy/Marine Corps C4ISR Defense & Intelligence Group Booz Allen Hamilton
Greg Wenzel
Executive Vice President Lead, Digital Solutions/C4ISR Strategic Innovation Group Booz Allen Hamilton
Integrated C4ISR through Enterprise Integration
Making Information Warfare a Reality
The concept of information warfare is based on a simple but powerful premise: Connecting sensors and shooters throughout the battlespace helps warfighters carry out their missions more effectively and rapidly, improving the odds of success and saving lives.
The question is how to make those connections. Vice Adm. Arthur K. Cebrowski and John J. Garstka described the vision of what was then known as network-centric warfare in 1998. The ensuing years have generated a proliferation of systems for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR). However, these systems often work
in stovepipes, and limit the ability of commanders to develop a more complete picture of the battlespace.
The solution is what is known as Integrated C4ISR through Enterprise Integration. This involves creating an open digital ecosystem that connects C4ISR systems through common, standard interfaces. The open architec- ture means no vendor or proprietary technology lock-in and creates a “market- place” that allows new niche innovators to participate in the ecosystem.
In this interview, two C4ISR experts from Booz Allen Hamilton discuss the concept of Integrated C4ISR through Enterprise Integration and the difference it can make in the years ahead. We spoke with Steve Soules, Executive Vice President in Booz Allen’s Defense & Intelligence business leading the firm’s C4ISR cross-cut cohort initiative along with Navy/Marine Corps C4ISR, and Greg Wenzel, Executive Vice President and Lead, Digital Solutions/C4ISR within Booz Allen’s Strategic Innovation Group.
QHow does Integrated C4ISR through Enterprise Integration
support the vision of information warfare?
QIn the near term, how can Integrated C4ISR through Enterprise
Integration move the Department of Defense (DOD) closer to this vision of information warfare?
A
Soules: Back in the day of
Admiral Cebrowski, there was
a lot of supplementary funding that
was provided to link data sources, link ground forces with air forces, and use translators or modulators to attempt to link data, communications and sensors in this point-to-point world. Integrated C4ISR through Enterprise Integration introduced the concept that if we looked at this world, this global grid, as an enterprise instead of patched point-to- point systems; we could start to
put definition around the common interface requirements.
A
Soules: I’m excited to report the
We can tap into the cloud environ- ment. We can move information regardless of the application or type of phone. Everybody can share the network. They don’t have to have common systems, but they do need to have common (and secure) standards and interface specifications.
You can take incremental steps through enterprise integration, as we have done for the Army, and as we’re starting to do for the Navy/Marine Corps and the Air Force by helping them define the standards, protocols, Aand interface requirements.
Wenzel: The Army is another
leading example. This was a multi- year change. Their Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) platform had
13 stove-piped systems. The ultimate desire was interoperability between the systems. In partnership, we helped them accomplish that by enabling them to pull back control of the architecture, setting the common, standard interfaces at the beginning, creating the open platform, and spurring competition among the systems, which freed up resources that allowed them to innovate into new areas like the cloud. We’re also proud to be supporting the Air Force in their quest to achieve an open architecture.
A
Wenzel: Enterprise integration
is Booz Allen’s holistic approach and methodology to helping government and military organizations achieve this integrated, interoperable environment. It has three steps—assess, architect, and assemble. Assess what you have, architect the blueprint for a truly system-to-systems world, and then you start connecting and assembling them together. The main difference here is the discovery and re-use of what has already been built and creating new value through
those connections.
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) have made moves to define the standard protocols and specifications. In the near- term, people are recognizing two things: First, the enemy is dictating the need for a more rapid response through what is called asymmetrical or irregular warfare. Second, we need to quickly move infor- mation in the battlespace to preempt, attack and respond.


































































































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