AFCEA NOVA’s Post

I'm back! This is my first story in Air & Space Forces Magazine for a couple of years. It is great to be back in Billy Mitchell's mag ;-) #usairforce It's a report on the first public comments by Gen. Jim Slife since he was sworn in Dec 29 as vice chief of the Air Staff. I thought the comments were notable, because they paint so gloomy a picture of the job the service is doing utilizing the vast troves of #data produced by all its #digital systems. “We’re not at all organized, educated [or] trained, … we don’t have the right policies, we are wholly out of position to be able to take advantage of this,” Slife told industry leaders at a lunch event hosted by the D.C. chapter of the #defensetechnology vendors’ trade association AFCEA DC. He gave some detailed and rather depressing examples, which I report comprehensively in the story. One thing I should have said more about, is why this is so important. The Air Force's top strategists recognize that data is likely to be the decisive factor in #nearpeer conflicts in the future, so if the service can't use it effectively, that's going to be a really big problem. With all that said, it's encouraging, I believe, that senior service leaders are prepared to be so upfront about the challenges they face. You can't solve a problem if you don't admit you have one. The examples Gen Slife selected are by no means low-hanging fruit (as he pointed out, "If this was an easy problem, we'd have solved it by now.") but they're exactly the right places to start, and he laid out the technologies the service needs to solve the problems he identified. The solutions are within reach, he said. More in the story here:

Now more than ever, the Department of Defense needs to be able to operationalize all its data to support the warfighter and America’s allies in global operations. Investment in AI is essential to success according to both industry and Defense Department leaders. https://bit.ly/47T0A8B #AI #Analytics #warfighterreadiness United States Department of Defense National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Chenega MIOS SBU Chronos Operations

📢 New Blog Alert: "Raindrops Keep Falling" 🌧️ Excited to share some reflections triggered by my recent visit to the Joint Targeting Automation Forum. Over my 20+ years in the defense industry, I've observed key themes that continuously resonate across various platforms and discussions. 🛡️📡 In this post, I delve into: 🔗 The critical need for accessible integration in defense technologies. 🌐 Breaking down data silos to amplify warfighter effectiveness. 🔄 Rethinking our approach to modeling and data utilization to ensure practical, real-world applications. 🤝 The imperative of early and effective collaboration with allies. I also share a peek into the architecture of the NGA's new campus and some memorable "swag". 🏢🎖️ Join the discussion and let's explore how these observations can lead to better solutions in the defense sector. Your thoughts and feedback are invaluable! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/guQ4TdyY #DefenseIndustry #DataIntegration #Collaboration #JTAF2024

MG Jeth Rey, Army Futures Command Network Cross-Funtional Team (N-CFT), and COL Cade Saie, currently serving as Military Deputy U.S. Army DEVCOM Analysis Center, published a recent article in Association of the United States Army - AUSA ( https://lnkd.in/e-h8kYHJ ) that discussed “Data Dominance” especially in a Muli-Domain Operation (MDO). As they looked at MDO and “Datacentric Transformation”, they brought out a key point that the US Army “ability to quickly and securely collect, process and transmit data, and the information derived from data, is critical to Joint All-Domain Command and Control operations with the Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force and Coast Guard ( https://lnkd.in/e6xgjNrt ), as well as the #military forces of America’s allies. It is also essential if the Army is to be successful in conducting multidomain operations across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace.” This is very critical as the United States Department of Defense works #technology like cloud, #artificialintelligence, and networks; capabilities; interoperability; requirements; and doctrine with experimentation events like AFC Project Convergence 24 and warfighter events like Pacific Pathways with America's First Corps (I Corps) in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to provide an environment to “shift from network-centricity to datacentricity to enable timely sharing of information across multiple classifications with the joint force and America’s coalition partners.” To expand on “Data Dominance”, “Datacentric Transformation” and Command and Control (C2) especially in a MDO environment, Nick Woodruff published an opinion piece in C4ISRNET especially in a “multinational nature” lens. Some initial good points for DoD “to be successful in future peer-to-peer warfare” that “decision-makers” are “really within all potential permutations of allies and partners. If we aren’t building core command and control (C2) capabilities with this in mind now, we will lose when approached by a real threat.” To tie back into AUSA Article and the importance of collaboration versus shinny technology, Nick points out “Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning hold incredible promise for extracting mission insights, but for those insights to be operationalized we have to focus on a simple concept that’s incredibly difficult: seamless workflow interoperability.” His conclusion brings it together related to #Data and C2 in a MDO with “the way forward is bringing partners and allies together within the same data-centric environment to empower teams to understand, collaborate, and act on authoritative and publicly available data in unison.”

As we near the end of the first quarter of 2024, the United States Department of Defense's CJADC2 initiative is advancing significantly as it garners focus from military services, international allies, and industry collaborators. James Parys, our vice president of growth and strategy, recently discussed the critical nature of CJADC2 with Executive Mosaic. He delved into the potential impacts of artificial intelligence and machine learning on these endeavors and explored how these innovations and initiatives are set to revolutionize tactical edge operations. Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/HeQF50QYeFq #CJADC2 #JointAllDomain #militaryinnovation #defensetechnology #artificalintelligence #AI #machinelearning #securecommunications #tacticaledge #nextgenmilitary

OlSarge- breaking down CJADC2 for a new trooper Ah, listen up, kid! This CJADC2 thing is all about making it damn easier for different military services and countries to chat and work together. They're using fancy-schmancy AI and machine learning stuff to help 'em share info and make smarter decisions. Right now, it might be a pain in the rear to talk to other services or countries, but this CJADC2 thingamajig is gonna change that. It'll help everyone work together like a well-oiled machine and have each other's backs on the battlefield. So sit tight, kid, 'cause the future of military cooperation is lookin' mighty promising!

Unlocking the power of data, analytics, and #AI in #defense! Explore the United States Department of Defense's 2023 strategy, showcasing 60+ years of investment and advancements. Learn how these technologies enhance capabilities for our service members - click here: https://ow.ly/BXg050Qtwmi

This week in Defense Tech: 1️⃣ United States Department of Defense top artificial intelligence official laid out the DoD's vision yesterday for scaling digital data #analytics and #ai across the department to ensure decision advantage for the warfighter. 2️⃣ Defense now outweighs offense, thanks to new tech, per Army Futures Command head Gen. Rainey. The realization may have wide-reaching implications for how the US Army trains and equips its forces. 3️⃣ Pentagon issues new guidance to address industry gripes about ATO process. "We're trying to strike a balance in maintaining our [risk management framework-driven] cybersecurity, but to make sure that we are able to move more quickly and not have to basically check everyone's homework,” CIO John Sherman told DefenseScoop. 4️⃣ Pentagon CIO previews ‘Fulcrum,’ the next digital modernization strategy. “The June time frame is when you'll be seeing some release on that," John Sherman told DefenseScoop. 5️⃣ As DoD concern grows about the increasing ability of adversaries to disrupt GPS satellite signals, experts warn that there is no one-size-fits-all alternative to meet military needs for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities. 6️⃣ The US Navy Neptune Cloud Portal is accelerating cloud adoption to lighting speed. The newly updated portal features a streamlined interface to request cloud services, dashboards for IaaS/PaaS/SaaS, and access to broader DoD cloud offerings such as Cloud One, JWCC. 7️⃣ US Army set to issue new policy guidance on use of #LLM. Pentagon officials see generative AI as a tool that could be used across the department, but security concerns need to be addressed. 8️⃣ House panel calls for a DOD quantum computing Center of Excellence. A subcommittee is pushing for the creation of a new military-focused quantum hub. 9️⃣ Despite demand, Defense Information Systems Agency financially constrained to scale cloud capabilities overseas. Part of the strain comes from the large amount of infrastructure and capability that DISA must allocate money towards maintaining. 🔟 US Army moving closer to having global access to secret network. The Army launched the first phase of Global Commercial Solutions for Classified. It is expected to reach initial operational capability by fiscal 2025. 🔗 Links in comments below 👇 #DoD #DHS #defenseinnovation #defense #defensetechnology #technology #tech #nationalsecurity #jadc2 #army #navy #airforce

US Army's transformation of a cross-functional team into an all-domain sensing team will remain based in Huntsville, Ala. The team has reached initial operational capability and aims to be fully operational by October, focusing on sensing architecture, data processing and dissemination, and the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning to assist humans. Sensing capabilities are crucial for modern military operations, enhancing situational awareness and decision-making. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly being integrated into defense systems to improve efficiency and support human operators. Architecture in this context refers to the design and structure of systems that enable effective sensing and data processing within the defense sector.

The United States Department of Defense has achieved a major milestone in military technology! The Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) system integrates all branches of the armed forces into a unified network, enabling tracking of bullet trajectories and simulating injuries during training exercises. This technology assesses accuracy, evaluates tactics, and enhances training realism. Thanks to recent advancements in communication and information-sharing processes, this concept is now a reality, albeit in a limited capacity. The achievement is a result of Global Information Dominance Experiments (GIDEs) led by the Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). The CDAO and partners iterate on capability development every 90 days, maintaining a rapid pace. Upcoming GIDEs will connect with the Army’s Project Convergence and exercises involving Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), focusing on long-range networking and intelligence sharing. Integrating AI and pattern-recognizing programs enhances data analysis and decision-making. The fiscal 2024 budget allocates $1.4 billion for CJADC2, emphasizing its transformative impact on military operations and collaboration with foreign partners. #MilitaryTech #TrainingInnovation #CombatSimulation #DefenseTech