FROM CANARY TO COMPUTER


FLYING TOWARD DIGITIZATION By the 1950s, CBRN detection capa- bilities had advanced significantly from the canary to more progressive devices. However, challenges such as lack of mobil- ity, susceptibility to the elements and inability to provide warning to nearby warfighters ensured a short shelf-life for most detection prototypes; and while incremental improvements would be made, capabilities evolved into the digital domain at a relatively slow pace. Fortu- nately, this is not the case today.


Te Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND)


is


adopting digital technologies to transform processes and improve the develop- ment of capabilities that serve the joint force to keep pace with the ever-chang- ing threat environment, which is gaining speed and becoming more dynamic. Joint Program Executive Officer for CBRN Defense Darryl Colvin has emphasized the importance of staying at the fore- front of this work for the Army and the DOD’s Chemical and Biological Defense Program. Colvin shared his vision for the future of CBRN defense technology: “It is all about the data. We want the warfighter to have as much information as possible at their fingertips so they can understand the environment, make informed deci- sions and respond faster to the situation. Tis requires integrated systems commu- nicating and working together to provide situational understanding, getting action- able information to the joint force faster.” Te JPEO-CBRND is building on this vision and taking steps to integrate today’s CBRN defense equipment and its data into digital spaces to inform and improve command decision making.


The absence of information generates blind spots. Tis puts commanders at a


20 Army AL&T Magazine Fall 2024


disadvantage and warfighters’ lives at risk. Te Army is harnessing the power of data, digital engineering, software and work- force development to integrate CBRN defense capabilities into the battlefield common operating picture across all the services.


TRANSFORMATION THROUGH DATA INTEGRATION Digital transformation in the form of data integration increases readiness, prepared- ness and lethality on the battlefield, and thorough situational understand- ing requires systems and capabilities to communicate with each other, faster, in a networked system across the joint force. In short, we cannot afford to think of CBRN environments as separate, isolated battlespaces.


Recently developed technologies—such as the CBRN Support to Command and Control (CSC2)—enable situational awareness and command and control to continue operations


compromised or threatened environment. CSC2 integrates


in a CBRN- sensor data into a


common architecture across the joint force, allowing for a near “plug-and-play” capability while providing automated CBRN hazard warning and reporting, which enables


accelerated decision


making and reduces false alarm rates. Paul Gietka, joint project lead for CBRN integration said, “CSC2 enables the interoperability and integration of CBRN and non-CBRN sensors to achieve critical situational awareness and understanding, increasing the speed and confidence in which commanders can make informed decisions.”


WILL DO CSC2


Drew Murphy, joint product lead for CBRN Integrated Early Warning, demonstrates the CBRN support to CSC2 tool to leaders at Focus Falcon 2023 on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in August 2023. (Photo by Matthew Gunther, JPEO-CBRND)


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