NETWORK CENTRIC OPERATIONS INDUSTRY CONSORTIUM ACCELERATING NETWORK CENTRIC SYSTEMS THROUGH INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
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The Need for Network Centric Operations
As technology advances at an astounding rate, access to information is no longer an option -- it's an expectation. The deciding factor in any military conflict is not the weaponry, it is the network. The missing link in today's disaster recovery efforts is a working network. And the key to emergency response is accurate information that enables first-responders to know what happened, who's responded, and what is still required. From the warrior to emergency personnel to the modern day consumer, access to all information, without regard to hardware, software, or location of the user, is no longer attractive, it is imperative. From 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina and Operation Iraqi Freedom, access to information, or lack thereof, has been the determinant of life or death. Improved situational awareness, increased mission effectiveness, and the ability to work across service lines are clear, obvious benefits of operating in a network centric environment. Information interoperability not only simplifies operations, but also harnesses the power of the network to bring data to those who need it most – those who defend a nation, protect the peace, work to ensure prompt aid and rescue during a natural disaster, and simply seek to better manage their quality of life. Today we stand at the threshold to a network-enabled future. To maximize the possibilities of networked coordinated collaboration and action, a common approach, used by all, is essential. Industry, through its unique ability to rapidly define, design, and test field cutting-edge technology, is best suited to develop a technical infrastructure that will enable systems and platforms to operate as a global network, and to deploy this capability to all end users.
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Industry Responds
Recognizing the synergies possible when industry coalesces for a common goal, the Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium (NCOIC) was formed in August 2004. As of October 2005, membership in this unique consortium totaled 80 organizations, all committed to the single goal of network centric operations. The NCOIC is a unique collaboration of premier leaders in the aerospace, defense, information technology, large-scale integrator and services industries. The Consortium works in tandem with customers from around the world, each with a specific mission, to provide a set of tools that enable the development of network centric capabilities and products. The NCOIC was formed to support those who design and deliver systems for warriors, firstresponders, and others as they seek to maximize information age capabilities. The NCOIC's products will continuously enhance systems and services' interoperability and operational resilience, and will reduce the cost of developing new capabilities, even as they become more prolific. For the procuring agencies, this will result in lower integration and administrative costs in the deployment of distributed systems that can interoperate easily, cost effectively and securely.
Through close collaboration with government and industry players, the NCOIC will act as a resource for scientists, engineers and software developers working on the transformation to network centric operations. The primary goals of the NCOIC are to adopt common open standards, share best practices and processes and encourage collaboration, enabling the industry to develop compatible products that will help customers achieve greater efficiency. Ultimately, a worldwide reference on NCO capabilities must be formed. The NCOIC consists of a complex system of interlinking working groups established from the participants of the member companies. The NCOIC works closely with international bodies, such as NATO, the European Union, and others to ensure that the goal of global interoperability is achieved.
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The Work of the NCOIC
NCOIC members are committed to working together to define the open standards, processes, methods, models and architectures that will accelerate and ensure secure, reliable interoperability. The NCOIC is a results-driven body, comprising five technical teams: • Customer Requirements Team – Defines stakeholder requirements by conducting a thorough and rigorous analysis of pertinent government agency architectures • Architectures and Standards Analysis Team – Develops a secure information management overarching architectural framework / reference model that identifies open standards and their patterns of use • Building Blocks Team – Identifies the widest possible community of open standards based product types • Education and Outreach Team – Provides an educational program for the dissemination of NCOIC information throughout the military, information technology, and industry communities • Engineering Processes Team – Plans and implements strategies to develop effective collaborative engineering environments
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Benefits of NCOIC Participation By participating, customers will be able to: • Increase systems interoperability for joint, interagency, and multi-national operations through the adoption of open standards and common processes • Lower administrative and upgrade costs • Improve readiness and response with systems seamlessly plugging into the network centric environment • Reduce systems integration costs • Accelerate the introduction of emerging technology into operational capabilities
How Do I Engage? Go to the NCOIC website: www.ncoic.org to learn more. You can join the consortium as a member, affiliate or advisor. Participation by government agencies is invited to identify relevant missions, requirements, problems and constraints, and to ensure alignment between customer needs and supplier services.
For more information, please contact: NCOICNewMember@NCOIC.org To see a current list of NCOIC members, please visit our website: www.ncoic.org.