Mission Networks: An Evolution in Information Sharing

Abstract

In support of Afghanistan operations, the U.S. military forces operational network transitioned from the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNET) to the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS)-International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) (CX-I) in 2010. The Department of Defense (DoD) implemented CX-I as the U.S. contribution to the Afghanistan Mission Network (AMN), which constituted an unprecedented evolution of U.S. military forces culture and capability towards mission partner information sharing. This transition also marked a significant milestone in the acceptance of a culture change envisioned by former Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, General James Cartwright in 2005. General Cartwright stated that multinational intelligence sharing was not technical but cultural, and that it represented a paradigm shift from "need to know" to "need to share." The 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) communicated the DoD initial information sharing requirement. Since then strategic guidance, policy, and technology have enabled the evolution of joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational (JIIM) mission partner information sharing. However, classic change resistance -- as exemplified by the firmly embedded DoD "need to know" culture -- has limited the adoption of net-centric information sharing. To facilitate a "need to share" culture change, DoD must capitalize on the adoption of the mission network information sharing strategy utilized in the ISAF: the AMN. The successful adoption of the AMN promotes the goals of net-centric information sharing culture. How the DoD proceeds with organizational change in information sharing culture and anchoring the "need to share" will dictate its future. This paper examines key strategic guidance on information sharing mandates, the evolution of net-centricity, the current operating environment, the AMN, and DoD organizational change and associated risk.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 20, 2012
Accession Number
ADA562132

Entities

People

  • David R. Wills

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Computer Networks
  • Cross Domain
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Systems
  • International Organizations
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • United States
  • United States Central Command
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Geospatial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Analytics
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.