A conference designed to bring the commercial IT Sector Closer to the Department of Defense
(Rescheduled for September) A Call to Arms for the IT Community
The Department of Defense (DOD) has entered the information age with a concept of network-centric warfare that relies on incorporation of state-of-the-art information technology (IT) in military systems. From major computer centers vital to managing the routine business of the department to frontline battlefield communications and automated, networked weapons systems, the demands for affordable, state-of-the-art IT products and services continue to increase. Much of the cutting edge of the IT sector is now found in the commercial world. Commercial research and development (R&D) investment is huge, and new products emerge every 12–18 months. To stay abreast of IT developments, DOD must take advantage of commercial information technology (CIT). Moreover, given other budget requirements, it makes little sense for DOD to fund the R&D necessary to meet all of its system development needs. Rather, it should focus R&D resources on military applications and rely on industry to the maximum extent possible to fund IT technology that can be adopted or adapted for defense use.
Doing business with the CIT industry has proven to be complicated. The industry is geared to a market of commercial business enterprise and consumers that dwarfs the defense market in both size and ease of doing business. Leading IT companies have limited incentives to do business with DOD, unless the department is willing to accept standard products without modification. And if DOD finds suitable technology, procurement is hampered by an acquisition system out of synch with commercial business practices. In the mid-1990s, DOD tried to increase procurement of CIT. Instruction 5000.2, the guide for DOD acquisition, was modified to state that defense systems will “make maximum use of commercial off the shelf technology.” Numerous policy statements, speeches, and articles by high-level defense officials have emphasized this point.
If CIT is not captured at a faster pace, DOD runs the risk of being unable to afford the capabilities required to complete missions and the further risk of losing the U.S. technological lead to any threat nation or group with the money to develop or buy the latest commercial products.*
Conference Aims and Objectives
This conference seeks to build on the findings of the first conference held in December 2002. Goals are:-
- Identify CIT of immediate impact for stabilization & reconstruction
- Identify programs, processes and advocates for CIT within the military services
- Create a caucus for innovative uses of CIT
Sponsors