DID YOU KNOW? DTIC has over 3.5 million final reports on DoD funded research, development, test, and evaluation activities available to our registered users. Click
HERE to register or log in.
Accession Number:
ADA581322
Title:
Joint Command and Control: Integration Not Interoperability
Descriptive Note:
Master's thesis
Corporate Author:
NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV NORFOLK VA JOINT ADVANCED WARFIGHTING SCHOOL
Report Date:
2013-03-01
Pagination or Media Count:
92.0
Abstract:
Currently, the four Services independently fund, field, and operate distinct, in effect, stand-alone C2 systems. However, every operational-level event is Joint. To incorporate their capabilities into Joint operations, the Services have developed distinct C2 systems with various levels of interoperability, but none of them are truly integrated. This creates a dilemma Do they continue with C2 systems that are merely interoperable, or adopt a different approach The Services develop interoperability internally between computers and communication equipment as part of their distinct systems. But for these distinct C2 systems to have any functionality among the Services, the Services must develop some degree of external interoperability among their separate computers and communication equipment. The Services also must determine the level of interoperability they want and the particular systems and equipment that will be interoperable. The ability for systems to minimally function together would meet the intent of the definition. However, even the highest level of interoperability will not achieve full integration. This thesis argues that Joint military operations will never be fully integrated as long as the Services have separate C2 systems. If Joint operations are the primary means of employing military forces in the future, the Department of Defense DoD must develop a unified C2 system for the Joint Force Commander JFC that will integrate land, maritime, air, space, and cyberspace capabilities across the range of military operations. Currently the JFCs only option is to execute C2 through the different C2 systems of the four Services. The optimal solution is a single, Joint C2 system that the JFC, Service component commanders, and functional component commanders all employ uniformly. The thesis also argues that DoD should commit to centralized funding of a Joint C2 system.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
