Collaborative Civil-Military Information Environments:

Challenges and Opportunities

Larry WentzNational Defense University

Center for Technology and National Security Policy

N-TEN Session 1A17 October 2005

Take Away

• Civil-Military Collaboration, Cooperation and Information Sharing– Culture and social change are the challenges– U.S. Policy and funding arrangements need updated

• Internet is the de facto Civil-Military Collaborative Information Environment– Collaboration tools interoperability problematic – Need better language translation and search tools

• Civil-Military ICT Capabilities – Lack agreed ICT architecture and CONOPS—implementation is ad hoc– Lot’s of commonality in commercial ICT capabilities deployed—need to make better use – New commercial products and services constantly emerging

• Information management and assurance problematic– Tagging, content, quality control, data standards, information packaging tools, misuse, security

Trust Sustains Coalitions, Technology is an EnablerTrust Sustains Coalitions, Technology is an Enabler

Potential Global Partners

Governmental

Non-Governmental

IGOs

NGOs

CJTF

Private MilitaryCorporations

IOs

Aid Agencies Military Forces

AffectedNation

DPKOMCDU

UN

BusinessCommunity

Civilian Military

MultinationalInteragency Players

OSCE

ICRCIFRC

EU

AU

OAS

ASEAN

Contractors

(1) Partners havedifferent responsibilities,authorities, and capabilitiesand expectations and agendas

(2) Roles of Partners vary – Based on cause and urgency of operation – Over time as conditions changeSource: Martin Lidy, IDA

DoS

Challenges

• Political “will” of participants and organizations• Organization cultures differences• IO/NGO neutrality and independence sensitivities• Policy, doctrine, tactics, techniques, procedures• Funding and security restrictions• Integrating ad hoc stove-piped capabilities• Language differences• Cultural and social situation awareness• Complex and enormous data problem• Information management and assurance• Building trust and shared understanding and expectations• Lack Civil-Military ICT Architecture and CONOPS• SYSCON, Network A/O/M and Spectrum Mgt• Responsible organization with authority and resources

RCC StaffRCC Staff

ServiceComponents

ServiceComponents

Supporting RCC/FCC

Supporting RCC/FCC

InteragencyInteragency

JTF JTF

Allies &CoalitionAllies &Coalition

Centers ofExcellenceCenters ofExcellence

Synchronous Rules

Synchronous Rules

AsynchronousRules

AsynchronousRules

• Session Scheduling• Session Set-up & Prep• Running a Collaborative Session• Follow-up Actions

• Taxonomy• Approval Process & Posting Authority• Naming Convention• Document Storage & Archiving

Organizations & People

Organizations & PeopleInfrastructureInfrastructure CapabilitiesCapabilities ProceduresProcedures

Local Area

Network

Local Area

Network

Wide Area

Network

Wide Area

Network

Synchronous Collaborative

Tools

Synchronous Collaborative

Tools

Asynchronous Collaborative

Tools

Asynchronous Collaborative

Tools

Situational Awareness

Tool

Situational Awareness

Tool

Web-based Enterprise

Portal

Web-based Enterprise

Portal

Information & Databases

Information & Databases

External Connectivity

External Connectivity

The Collaborative Information Environment

E-mailE-mail

IOs/NGOsIOs/NGOs

IndustryIndustry

Technical Organization

KiosksCall Center

Internet Cafe

KiosksCall Center

Internet Cafe

HIC/HAC/ICCMOC/CMICHIC/HAC/ICCMOC/CMIC

Notional Civil-Military Collaborative Information Environment

IOIGO

NGO

UN

NATO

DoDRCC/SJFHQ

JTF

USAIDDCHA OFDA (AT, DART, RMT) OTIRegion Bureaus

DoSPRM

S/CRS (HSRT

and ACT)HIU

Multi-NationalMilitary

CIMIC

CMOC

CollaborativeInformationEnvironment

HICOSOCC

CIMIC

IMUHACC

HICHAC

MultinationalCivilian Gov’t

AffectedNation

InternetCafe

IC

IC

DARTCountry

TeamIC

Kiosk

US MilitaryNIPRNET

US MilitaryNIPRNET

Ad Hoc Civil-Military Collaborative Information Environment

Internet

InternationalOrganizations

and NGOPortals

InternationalOrganizations

and NGOPortals

MilitaryUnclassified

Portals

MilitaryUnclassified

Portals

Civilian Gov’t and other CivilOrganizations

Portals

Civilian Gov’t and other CivilOrganizations

Portals

NGOs

IOs

US Civil Gov’tAgencies

US MilitaryClassified

ClassifiedNetworks

MILSATCOM COMSAT

MilitaryClassified

Portals

MilitaryClassified

Portals

BloggersBloggers

DMZ

Internet is the “de facto” civil-military collaborative information networkand commercial SATCOM the primary communications means

UN

Commercial ICT Capability Packages

Example of Civil-Military Deployable ICT Capability Packages and

Distributed Information Environment

Internet (Email, VoIP, GIS, Collaboration Tools, VTC, Video, Imagery, …)

MilitaryS&R ICT

Civilian Gov’tS&R ICT

ISPSATPHONEGSM/PSTN

IO, IGO, NGOS&R ICT

Web Sites

IT

Comms

ISPSATPHONEGSM/PSTN

ISPSATPHONEGSM/PSTN

TeleportVSAT

TeleportVSAT

TeleportVSAT

VSAT, GSM, SATPHONES, PSTN, AM/FM, HF, VHF, UHF, TV Networks

ServicesVoice, Fax, Data Email, Internet

VTC, Video, Imagery

System ControlNet Mgt & Admin

Frequency Mgt

Portals, Hubs, & Virtual WorkspacesHost Country DetailsSituation AwarenessWho’s doing what, where, $ :Maps, Assessments, Web portalsPhonebook/Email address booksRadio Nets (Security, 1st Responders,..)

CMOC IMC CIMIC HIC

Kiosks: Call Center Internet Café

HIC

Metadata Registry and Catalog and

Shared Workspace

Enable CapacityBuilding

ISP

GSMPSTNRadio

TV

HostNation

Information/Knowledge MgtInformation Assurance

Commercial ICT Capability Packages and Distributed Information

Network

Telephone Telephone Telephone

Laptop computer Laptop computer Laptop computer

Mobile Comm Box

AP

Bridge

MAR

Internet / Designated Intranet

Satellite

Satellite dish

Laptop

Laptop

Laptop

MilitaryUnclassified

Portals

MetadataRepository

Internet

OtherMilitaryElements

Internet in a Box

Commercial

Civilian Agency Portals

Distributed Information Network

International Organizations NGO Portals

Shared Workspace

Shared Workspace

COEs and SMEsAcademiaIndustry

Data Repositories

Inmarsat Phone (2.4 to 4.8 kb/s)

Cell PhoneRadios

RegistryCatalogShared space

TelephonePABX

PSTN/ISP

RBGAN to VSAT

(144Kb/s to Mb/s)

WiFiAntenna

ICT Capability Package

WiFiCOW

LOS TxRadio/TV

Forward Deployed CapabilitiesWired and Wireless LAN Internet Access (VoIP, Email, Data, Video, Imagery, Browsers, Portals, Metadata Repository)Collaboration, Assessment, Visualization Maps/Mapping Tools, GIS, GPSDistributed Information Environment (One stop shopping)Laptops, desktops, M/S office, AdobeCellular and Public PhonesHF,VHF, UHF RadiosSatellite phones, VSATVHF G/A RadiosWiFiCell on WheelsPortable PABXLOS TxRadio/TVPrint

Example Applications and Tools

• M/S Office• Internet access

– Email and browser– Search tools

• Adobe• GIS tools• Mapping tools• Collaboration tools

– IWS, Groove, WebEx, …• Secure P2P • Shared workspace and chat rooms• Information management

– Forms, reports, and tracking tools– Tagging, content, trusted sources,…

• Database tools• Visualization and analysis tools• Language translation tools

– Babylon (TriM---MITRE), Tides,..• VoIP

– Skype,…• VTC• GPS (Geo-referencing)• Web site development tools• Digital camera, video, imagery• Cell phones

– Text messaging, pictures and video• PDAs

– GPS, Camera, Templates, …

Tsunami U.S. Relief Ops

APANPortals

(Virtual CMOC)

APANPortals

(Virtual CMOC)

DoD

LocalNationalsIO/NGO

Shared Workspace

Shared Workspace

SATPHONESINMARSAT

IRIDIUMTHURAYA

Internet

Telephone

Computer Computer Computer Computer

LAN

Wireless LAN

Laptop

Laptop

GSM Cellular

DoD

LocalNationalsIO/NGO

SIPRNet

Computer Computer

JIACGJIACG

Forward Deployed

PDC &COE

Portals

PDC &COE

Portals

ReliefWeb, UNJLC, WFP, …. ICRC

Portals

ReliefWeb, UNJLC, WFP, …. ICRC

Portals

DoS HIU eRoom Portal

DoS HIU eRoom Portal

VSAT

Bloggers

Examples of Technical ICT Partners

Internet

UN portals

VVFA(security

awareness)

GRT Fusion Center

TSF, VITA

DRASTIC

GRT

United NationsFITTEST

CommercialSatellites

Teleport

WiFi, VSAT, Satellite Phones, Cellular, Radios, VoIP, Collaboration Tools, VTC, Video, GIS Tools, …

NetHopeNetRelief Kit

Strong Angellike

TCSSwiftLink

ISP

Hub

PSTN

ProActive

Inveneo

Way Ahead

• Create an environment of willingness to conduct more open cooperation and sharing between the civilian and military participants

• Seek achieving an agreed strategy, CONOPS, systems architecture and standards for creating a collaborative information environment and improved information sharing – ICT architecture and data standards– Improve shared situation awareness– Information management and assurance– Translation tools– Interoperable collaboration tools

• Seek agreement on organization arrangements for creating and maintaining a civil-military collaborative information environment

• Improve civil-military social networking– Education and workshops– Exercises, training, and experiments