Operational Meteorology and Oceanography and Network-Centric Warfare: Implications for the Joint Force Commander
Abstract
After a number of years of exponential growth in the technologies of computing power and global wireless communications, the U.S. Navy has adopted Network Centric Warfare (NCW) as the latest "Revolution in Military Affairs". This concept has the potential for wide application in the joint arena, where the rapid rate of data and information assimilation, fusion, and dissemination offer the Joint Force Commander (JFC) the potential to achieve Dominant Battlespace Awareness. Adapting to a "network-centric" environment should be a key focus of all DOD components, but particularly service organizations, such as meteorology and oceanography (METOC), who will be tasked to support an ambitious charter of network requirements. The components must therefore scrutinize current operations with an eye towards supporting the concept of network nodes, which would act as a control and fusion hubs for the vast amounts of data and information flowing into the network. These nodes would serve as focal pointS for the flow of full spectrum support across the range of warfighters operating in a particular Joint Operating Area (JOA). When applied to the joint arena, the JFC, through the assigned Joint METOC Officer (JMO) should assess the best location and composition of the supporting node, with respect to the nature of the assigned mission and JOA. This paper discusses a number of METOC node options available to the JFC.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 13, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA348418
Entities
People
- Robert S. Steadley
Organizations
- Naval War College