January 26, 2011
ARCHIVE/SUBSCRIBEEW/SIGINT RESOURCE GUIDE  |
STORY OF THE WEEK: Lessons from the AOC Reprogramming Conference
The conference’s theme was "Information Age EW Reprogramming – A 21st Century Data Revolution." While previous AOC conferences have addressed reprogramming as one of the topics, this conference was dedicated to modernizing the reprogramming process. Three sessions outlined the discussions: 1) perspectives of the various participants, 2) data and its harmonization throughout the process, and 3) systems that require reprogramming. The significance of the conference was not only in the topic itself, but in how the need for the conference arose. In July 2009 the AOC conducted its first Intelligence and Electronic Warfare conference at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Titled "Operationalizing Intelligence for Electronic Warfare in the 21st Century," the conference’s principle objective was to foster a better integration of Intelligence and Electronic Warfare. One of that conference’s principal outcomes was the identification of EW databases and the multiple reprogramming languages now required as an immediate issue. This EW Reprogramming conference was a direct response to meet a specific request from operators, intelligence analysts and industry to address the issue of EW reprogramming data. Seven specific objectives were identified for the reprogramming conference: 1) Provide a fluid and substantive interactive environment for the entirety of the EW reprogramming community; 2) Develop a foundational understanding of 21st Century EW reprogramming requirements; 3) Develop a foundation for data cross-compatibility; 4) Gain a broader understanding of systems dependent on reprogramming data; 5) Integrate 21st Century information age culture into reprogramming systems; 6) Understand the needs and timelines of reprogramming data users; and 7) Form an ad hoc COI of all participants in the EW reprogramming process. The conference was organized around three sessions: User perspectives, Data Harmonization, and System Requirements. Session 1’s keynote speaker, Dr. Randall Janka of Zeta Associates, provided a terrific opening presentation on an industry perspective of reprogramming and current industry COIs. He set the stage with a look at how similar industries address very similar issues. Introducing the concept of co-opetition, he challenged the audience from the get-go, saying that business as usual was not acceptable. Session 2’s keynote speaker was Mr. Steve Hayden from USD(I). Mr Hayden’s presentation on intelligence mission data highlighted DOD efforts to harmonize the data process and address the issues of not only volume, but also the breadth of 21st century data requirements. Session 3 started with a keynote address from Mr. Jim Detjen, DIA Chief Scientist, on the changing face of scientific and technical intelligence and an emphasis on its exponential growth. In Session 1, conference attendees heard from representatives of each of the services’ reprogramming managers as well as a joint perspective presented by both the Joint Electronic Warfare Directorate and the Air-Land-Sea Application Center. Common themes of the presenters included challenges presented by the multitude of different systems, maintaining legacy systems viability and the speed (or lack thereof) of the reprogramming process. Session 2 was dedicated to discussions on data itself. From the NASIC conference in July, the need for more standardized data and their harmonization were identified as a critical issue for both the intel and operations communities. Presentations in this session highlighted key topics and issues within acquisition, data management and spectrum growth. Various data management systems including the Next Generation EWIR System (NGES), the EWIR database (EWIRDB) and E-Space highlighted the growing complexity and the need for data compatibility of automated systems to assist with data management. One of the more unique perspectives presented was the issue of maintaining system firmware applications and how that process must align with mission data management. As EW systems continue to evolve in a 21st century cyber environment, so too do the requirements and diversity of systems that use mission data. With the stage set for Session 3 by Mr. Detjen, presenters addressed key issues from the perspectives of non-traditional data users. All the services and organizations use their own organic from of "rapid reprogramming." While there seem to be many similarities, the subtle differences only highlight the growing importance of data harmonization. The convergence of cyber and EW is magnifying the need for scalable and configurable automated processes. Reprogramming on the fly and downloadable data is driving requirements for a more "hands-off" approach to the reprogramming process. The increasing use and prominence of modeling and simulation is creating an entirely new user community dependent on current and validated mission data to maintain the viability of their systems. By far the most tangible outcome of the conference occurred in Session 4. As was demonstrated by the diverse and broad range of participants in the EW reprogramming community, there is a specified and requested need for a multi-discipline, cross function, distributed, ad hoc COI whose purpose is to affect and influence reprogramming. Mr. Walter Wolf, AOC President, opened this session with a pledge that the AOC will take a leading role in helping make this COI a reality. The basic objective of the COI would be to provide a mechanism for people and organizations affected by reprogramming to come together and share thoughts and concepts on reprogramming. A panel of the keynote speakers helped shape discussions for the content of a COI. Conference attendees were then able to conduct an interactive working group to "white-board" a scope for the COI; i.e., to outline a purpose, determine areas of interest, set expectations, brainstorm membership, etc. The AOC will act as an executive secretariat to facilitate the COI and its activities. More about the formulation of this COI will be available in the coming months. After two days of a very productive and informative conference, a foundation was laid for an AOC-facilitated Joint/Coalition Electronic Warfare Integrated Reprogramming Group. Attendees were able to baseline their understanding of the challenges of EW Reprogramming in the Information Age and then interact in an open forum to begin the process of developing and documenting 21st Century EW reprogramming mission data requirements. Data standardization, sharing and access issues and solutions were a critical element of discussions and the conference promoted a shared understanding through discussions by process participants of their perspectives and roles, their data needs and access, and the systems that use reprogramming data. We look forward to the formulation of the EW Reprogramming COI and next year’s subsequent conference. |
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