That day is not far off, says Christopher B. Jackson, chief of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division of the Joint Forces Command’s Intelligence Directorate (see story, Page 36).

“There will be a local information grid that supports the idea that data needs to be able to flow unimpeded as frictionless as possible across the networks,” Jackson says. “A soldier would provide information into this grid as he or she is on patrol with a personal digital assistant or laptop, receiving information relevant to their current situation.”

But until the services and intelligence agencies improve their techniques for collecting and disseminating information—the idea of a grid stands a real chance of not being available to those who need it most: troops on the battlefield.

For more than a decade, Joint Forces has worked to improve the integration of tactical warfighting assets. Each year, the regional combatant commands—dispersed around the globe—hold multinational exercises where they test the interoperability of service and coalition technology.

Interoperability in the early days meant jury-rigging telephone connections so dispersed forces could communicate with one another. Today’s participants communicate over an IP infrastructure, using voice over IP, radio and commercial satellite links.

Read about the challenges of information sharing, and the approaches the regional combatant commands are taking in our story on Page 16.

In this issue, you can also learn how the Defense Department is renewing its commitment to earned value management (Page 29); where DOD stands in its transition to IP Version 6 (Page 22); and what the Army is doing to shore up the communications pillars of its Future Combat Systems program (Page 10).

donley@postnewsweektech.com

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