Interview with Vice Adm. James D. McArthur Jr. Commander Naval Network Warfare Command

CHIPS, Fall, 2004

FORCEnet will take current capabilities and develop them into a hybrid of initiatives to include remote sensors, UAV/UUV/CAVS and advanced human-centric interoperability. This would evolve into integrated systems--seamless, fault tolerant networks, dynamic battlespace deconfliction and be Web-enabled. Ultimately, in the 2015-2020 time frame, we would evolve to a fully integrated and interactive system for all users that would include fully-automated networks, consolidated decision-support tools and full human-centric integration of the 21st century warrior.

CHIPS: What is NETWARCOM's role in enterprise IT in regard to the BLII OCONUS, IT-21, future requirements and IT governance?

Vice Adm. McArthur: To answer this question, let me go back to NETWARCOM's mission--our mandate is to provide a reliable, secure, interoperable and affordable network that creates rapid, high quality decision-making, effects-based operations and combat readiness across the Navy. To do so, we must help to lead Navy's efforts to deliver a seamless network environment for our Sailors and civilians, whether they are at sea, overseas, at home or away from their home station on travel. One of the greatest challenges facing today's Navy is to make our various enterprise and stand-alone networks operate together as a whole and to bring this vision to reality--as soon as possible.

This means that users of today's program of record networks such as the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI), Overseas Naval Enterprise Network (ONE-NET--a new and more descriptive name for Base Level Information Infrastructure OCONUS--BLII OCONUS), and Integrated Shipboard Network System (ISNS) also known as Information Technology for the 21st Century (IT-21) need to be able to exchange their information seamlessly regardless of which network they're using, and they need to be able to exchange information with their counterparts in the other Services as well--this is the vision of a truly enterprise network.

Our role is to operate, maintain and ensure the security of today's networks--but also to be a forceful advocate for change to integrate the Navy's networks and, most importantly, to ensure that the applications and services that traverse the networks will work together and deliver warfighting capability to our Sailors into the future.

CHIPS: NETWARCOM is working with the Joint Forces Command on Joint Battle Management Command and Control or JBMC2. Can you talk about your role in the JBMC2?

Vice Adm. McArthur: JBMC2 was initiated to promote DoD's goal of fielding fully joint and interoperable battle management command and control capabilities. As a result, JBMC2 cuts across a wide range of commands within the Navy and other Services. Naval Network Warfare Command, on behalf of Commander Fleet Forces Command, serves as the Navy's representative to the JBMC2 Board of Directors (BoD). As CFFC's representative, NETWARCOM provides an operational perspective to the numerous critical issues addressed by the JBMC2 BoD. Our work with Air Force Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (AFC2ISR) and Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) complements the JBMC2 work.