LESSONS LEARNED FROM A MIDDLEMAN
design goals, such as the use of commercial low- and medium- earth-orbit satellite constellations and ground terminals, and tailoring the ITN to Stryker and armored units. Of particular importance is the support to Joint All Domain Command and Control—a major concept that will leverage capabilities across all domains and mission partners to achieve battlefield advantage. In support of this concept, the Army plans to deliver network trans- port and data management solutions to enable the flow of critical situational awareness and sensor data. Te goal is to connect sensors (such as aircraft, radar and Soldier-wearable devices), to shooter (the weapon systems used to attack targets), all the way down to the dismounted Soldier.
NIMBLE COMMUNICATIONS
The 50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced pilot unit demonstrated its new lighter, scalable, tailorable and more expeditionary network equipment prototype package to U.S. Army Forces Command leaders in May 2019 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (Photo by Amy Walker, PM Tactical Network, PEO C3T)
assets, or require increased network capability to support certain missions. Te tool suite comprises an innovative mix of smaller, more mobile equipment for tactical network transport, with significantly reduced complexity and logistical requirements. Tis modernized commercial off-the-shelf equipment set enables the ESB-Es to rapidly deploy and maneuver across the battlefield and provide robust and resilient network connectivity to the other units it supports.
Following the successful ESB-E pilot effort, I was involved in efforts to identify and implement the path forward for fielding. By working this effort and many other products throughout my year at the Network Cross-Functional Team, I gained an appreci- ation of the staffing process—all of the coordination that happens at the working levels before putting recommendations in front of the decision-makers—and how the process can support timely modernization decisions while building consensus and captur- ing differing perspectives.
Looking ahead past ESB-E and other Capability Set 21 solutions, Capability Set 23 builds on those, including science and technol- ogy efforts that have transitioned or will transition to PM TN. I took part in initial Capability Set 23 planning discussions as the Army looked to document objectives and approaches for various
170 Army AL&T Magazine Fall 2020
ENGAGING WITH INDUSTRY Te Army is relying on industry to provide innovative and pioneering technologies to support its network modernization efforts. Te Network Cross-Functional Team and PEO C3T have been hosting technical exchange meetings to inform industry of opportunities to partner with the Army in support of capability set requirements as part of the acquisition process.
For instance, the technical solutions discovered through the fourth technical exchange meeting, held in November 2019 in Austin, Texas, will be used to inform Capability Set 23 during its preliminary design review in 2021. More than 670 indus- try and government partners attended that meeting; ultimately, the Network Cross-Functional Team and PEO C3T selected six topics to return to industry in a call for white papers. PM TN is the acquisition lead for one of those topics: managed multi-orbit satellite communications services.
As the Network Cross-Functional Team liaison, I worked on this effort from the start, beginning with the initial request for white papers in January 2020. Subsequently, I supported the white paper technical evaluations, which resulted in the selection of two vendors’ submissions for participation in a “Shark Tank” techni- cal demonstration. At that event, one vendor was chosen to move forward with statement-of-work development and a final proposal. Te contract is expected to be awarded this fall. Te capability is being developed and evaluated in support of the Capability Set 23 preliminary design review.
LEVERAGING LESSONS LEARNED My developmental assignment recently ended, and I transitioned to a new position as the assistant product manager for integration at Product Lead Unified Network Capabilities and Integration, a new product office created under PM TN earlier this year. Te office consolidates tactical network integration efforts for current,
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