Military Technology Leaders Call For Greater Collaboration with Industry
April 25, 2016 | PRNewswireEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The next generation of U.S. military information systems will be a product of the private sector if the Defense Information Systems Agency's (DISA's) plans come to fruition. The agency already is relying on industry for key services and this partnership will grow in the coming years. These insights were among many DISA leaders shared at the AFCEA International Defensive Cyber Operations Symposium held April 20-22.
Driving this cooperation are some harsh realities. Cyber defense teams find themselves defending against a wider range of adversaries whose malevolent abilities are constantly changing. Mobile communication capabilities are emerging from the consumer market faster than the military can develop them for its own use. In addition, commercial services are replacing military equivalents as tight budgets squeeze defense organizations out of their traditional business models.
DISA's director, Gen. Alan R. Lynn, USA, focused on industry's expanded role in future agency activities. "We want the technology industry to partner with us to develop the next generation of military [information technology] services," Gen. Lynn stated.
Addressing hundreds of industry representatives at the symposium, Gen. Lynn cited network anomaly detection as one business opportunity. "If you have something that allows us to see anomalies better, we'll plug it into our systems," he said. That is a near-term need; for the mid term, DISA will need software-defined networks, he added.
Above all, security measures reign supreme. "If you have novel ideas of how to do encryption, we're all ears," the general said. DISA's efforts to build out the network, which are essential with the looming Internet of Things, will rely on the assured identity and security piece, he allowed.
During a pre-conference presentation titled "DISA 102," Tony Montemarano, executive deputy director, DISA, shared his opinion about the growing opportunities for industry. "There's less and less development going on in the department; we have less and less latitude. We need to rely on commercial products, we no longer are in the build-it-from-scratch mode."
DISA officials recognize that taking full advantage of what industry has to offer requires changes to its procurement processes. They agreed that a new partnership paradigm would be absolutely necessary if both are to succeed in speeding innovative technologies into the U.S. military.
Terry Halvorsen, U.S. Defense Department CIO, explained that the solution to fixing the current disconnect is about more than technology. "Now it's time to have a conversation about culture change—cyber culture, tech culture," he emphasized.
"The issue is how we in government look at industry and how industry looks at government. The partnership where we understand what industry is doing and industry understands government is a win-win," Halvorsen stated. Government needs to listen to industry more, he allowed, and industry must be dedicated to working in new directions.
Additional coverage of the Defensive Cyber Operations Symposium including video and audio recordings is available online.
AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit non-lobbying membership association serving the military, government, industry and academia.
Suggested Items
Lockheed Martin Australia, The Department Of Defence Sign Strategic Partnership Head Contract
04/26/2024 | Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin Australia signed a landmark AUD$500 million contract with the Department of Defence to build Australia’s future Joint Air Battle Management System under project - AIR6500 Phase 1 (AIR6500-1).
SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.
Elevating PCB Design Engineering With IPC Programs
04/24/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIn a monumental stride for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC has successfully championed the recognition of the PCB Design Engineer as an official occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This pivotal achievement not only underscores the critical role of PCB design engineers within the technology landscape, but also marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward nurturing a robust, skilled workforce ready to propel our industry into the future.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Going Vertical: SCHMID's Advanced Solutions for Printed Circuit Boards
04/24/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOEditor Marcy LaRont chats with Bob Ferguson, the president of SCHMID, about advanced solutions for PCBs and the equipment they are highlighting at this year's show. He delves into vertical no-touch handling systems and the prospect of achieving sub-10-micron lines. Inspired by SCHMID's technology, Bob expresses excitement about where the industry is today.
Big Win for Defense Production Act Budget Allocation in FY24 Budget
04/23/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamOne year ago, President Biden issued a determination that chips and packaging are critical for national security. Since that time, much work has been done to continue the conversation in Washington, elevating the importance of the entire chips value chain, and including printed circuit boards and substrates, without which chips cannot operate.